All three high school bands in Fort Mill had winning weekends. Here’s a look:
The Nation Ford High School Band participated in the South Carolina Band Directors Association’s 4A Upper State Championships on Saturday at Gaffney High School in Gaffney. The band was named Class 4A Champions and received the award for high music. Finishing in 2nd place was Easley High School, with York Comprehensive High School finishing in 3rd.
Nation Ford now qualifies to compete in the SCBDA 4A State Championships to be held Saturday, Oct. 26, at Spring Valley High School in Columbia.
The Catawba Ridge High School Band competed with 19 South Carolina bands on Saturday and finished in First Place in the Upper State and won the awards for Best Music and Best Overall Effect. This placement qualifies the band for their first ever South Carolina State Marching Band Championships.
The band also takes the field next week at Spring Valley High School in Columbia.
Fort Mill High School joined 18 other bands from the Carolinas as they traveled to Mooresville High School on Saturday at the 38th Annual Blue Devil Band Classic. Bands were divided into five classes based on band size.
In Class 5A, Fort Mill won the awards for Best Color Guard, Best Percussion, Best Music, and Best Overall Effect. The visual/marching caption was not scored, due to inclement weather. Fort Mill scored a 92.80 and placed first in Class 5A. Fort Mill was also named overall Grand Champion, earning the highest score regardless of class.
Next Saturday, Fort Mill will travel to Powder Springs, Ga., for the Bands of America (BOA) Regional at McEachern High School. Twenty-two bands from six states (Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Mississippi, South Carolina, and Tennessee) will compete.
Fort Mill, Byrnes, Summerville, and Mauldin will represent South Carolina at this multi-state event. Harrison HS (GA) is a 3-time winner of this BOA Regional and leads the contingent of 10 Georgia bands scheduled to compete.
Fort Mill won the BOA Powder Springs Regional in 2015.
Congratulations to all the bands!