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Stewarts Creek High School hosts District II State Band Championship




Section leaders of Adamsville High School marching band with their Stewarts Creek High School hosts, students Cathryn Bolick and Chloe Watson, Principal Dr. Clark Harrell and Band Director Michael Chester.  JULIA STEVENS

Section leaders of Adamsville High School marching band with their Stewarts Creek High School hosts, students Cathryn Bolick and Chloe Watson, Principal Dr. Clark Harrell and Band Director Michael Chester.  JULIA STEVENS

Stewarts Creek High School hosted the 37th Annual Tennessee Division II State Marching Band Championship Nov. 4 for the fourth consecutive year.

 

Twenty-one high schools competed, including Claiborne, McNairy Central, Signal Mountain, Chester County, Greenville, Lexington, Adamsville, East Hickman County, Obion County Central, Carter, DeKalb County, Macon County, South Gibson County, Milan, First Assembly Christian, Sullivan South, White House, Crockett County, West Greene, Giles County and Elizabethton.

Each marching band is judged for its music, visuals, effects, percussion, color guard and drum majors.

Debbie Burton, band director of Stewarts Creek High School said hosting the event is “an honor.”

“Every year, the band directors of the schools discuss the event, what is done well and what could be improved. The band directors requested that we again be the host school,” said Burton.

“We’ve had a big turnout and the weather has been fantastic, even a little warm for November. The stadium on this side seats more than 4,000 and we are pretty close to that now.”

Burton said the experience benefits everyone involved.

“It’s a great experience for the staff, the band members and for the band parents. It’s a big undertaking for the band parents and they are doing a great job. The students get experience with the other band students, and get credit for community support as well.”

The goal of this year’s competition was to get 21 high school bands on the field for the competition, but in between that effort, all the band directors, staff, students and parents get to meet and talk with each other when not on the field, sharing tips and experiences. There is a hospitality room for band directors, who use it to discuss plans for the future.

“The Championship is a great testament to the hard work of all the bands,” Burton said. “The band is on the field on Friday night for every football game, but they are not in the forefront. At the Championship, they are the stars of the show.”

Overall winner Adamsville High School Band took home the Governor’s Cup, while Elizabethton High School’s “Betsy Band” was the runner-up.

The two swapped places from the 2016 Tennessee Division II State Marching Band Championship, with Elizabethton taking first and Adamsville taking second.

“We are proud, so proud of our students. They are an amazing group of young people. Adamsville and its band has a lot of pride and a rich tradition, with its nine previous Division I wins,” said David Stevens, the Adamsville High School marching band director. “Stewarts Creek High School has been a great host, very attentive and welcoming for everybody. It was great experience to be here this year.”

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