Marching Festival draws crowd of fans
By By Clif Knight, Hartselle Enquirer
The 13th annual Southern Hospitality Marching Contest, sponsored by Hartselle Band Boosters, attracted 18 competing high school bands, three exhibition bands and more than 8,000 people to J. P. Cain Stadium in Hartselle on Saturday, Oct. 4.
Other bands in the competition represented Brindlee Mountain, Meek, Oakman, Curry, Good Hope, West Limestone, Hanceville, Vinemont, Brewer, Fairview, Priceville, Muscle Shoals, Cullman, Franklin County, Tenn. and Tullahoma, Tenn.
Hartselle High’s band didn’t compete but was featured in an exhibition performance. Its
The highlight of the festival was an exhibition performance by the 215-members Pride of Dixie Band from the University of North Alabama. Its members include four Hartselle High band alumni, Lauren Owen, Jake Wooley, Crissy Shelton and Courtney Corley.
Bands competed in five classes and trophies were awarded in each class for Best Drum Major, Best Percussion, Best Color Guard, Best Majorettes, Best Dance Line and Best Overall Band.
Brewer High School was judged best in five of the six categories in class 3-A, including Best Overall Band. Vinemont High School was the winner in four of six categories in class 2-A.
Challenge Cups were awarded to: Class 1-A, Oakman; Class 2-A, Vinemont; Class 3-A, Brewer, Class 4-A, Muscle Shoals; and Class 5-A, Oak Mountain.
The Dexter Greenhaw Memorial Trophy for Best Overall Color Guard was presented to Muscle Shoals. The award was presented by the late HHS band director’s mother, Edna Greenhaw.
Awards were presented by HHS band director Key and seven of his band members, Nancy Canafax, Raeshaun Jones, Jesse Wallace, Whitney Johnson, Doug Teuscher, Ethan Byrd, Jaden Grove, Morgen Jensen and Piper Nosal.
Robyn Wallace served as festival chairperson for the second year in a row.
Hartselle High’s band compiled the highest score of the day, claimed all superior ratings and won the Most Interesting Band Award in the Kudzu Band Festival in Russellville two weeks ago.
