March On! Big Weekend Ahead for Marching Bands

By: Chris Allen - Email

Updated: Wed 10:51 AM, Oct 29, 2008

(10/29/08) - Several South Central Kentucky High School marching bands will be competing this weekend at the state semi-finals...

Lookout Papa John's Stadium this weekend...here come the bands!! Louisville is about to be inundated with the best that Kentucky has to offer in high school marching bands. On top of that, no less than 21 of these bands are from right here in South Central Kentucky! (Do we know how to rock or what?)

It's been a while since I've been directly involved with high school marching bands and I really miss it. If I weren't out programming weather radios this weekend, I'd probably be in Louisville. When my two daughters were part of the Marching Purples at Bowling Green High for almost seven years, I was band booster chair, concessions manager, prop walker, instrument hauler (roadie) and occasional drum line instructor-wannabe. When Mr. Briley couldn't get the band's attention during practice or just before a competition, I'd often step in and get their attention or give 'em a pep talk.

It's all about discipline. While the football and basketball teams...even soccer teams get lots of attention during the sports segments, I want to do my part in recognizing the hard work our area high school marching bands so greatly deserve. For those of us who were once marching band geeks back in the day, it's always cool to watch your sons and daughters march out on field for the first time. Yes, I lived vicariously through my daughters when it was their turn. They made me want to get back out there and do it all over again.

If you're a music lover, you'll enjoy going to the competitions. It doesn't matter if you have a vested interest (son, daughter, grandson, granddaughter, etc.) in a particular high school band, just go anyway. You'll love the music, the pageantry, the precision and the athletics...yes, athletics our students have to offer. For those of us who can walk and chew gum at the same time, we love the technical side of all this. The glides...the shuffles and the syncopated steps in perfect posture while still maintaining your instrument and looking straight ahead. This is not for the faint of heart.

To those of you that are band parents...been there, done that...God bless you! Band instructors and assistants...thank you for your patience, not only with our kids but with us parents as well. Good luck to all of you this weekend and don't forget to GLIDE WITH PRIDE!

Here is the schedule for this weekend's KMEA/SMBC semi-finals in Louisville with the finals at Papa John's Stadium (U of L's campus) along with ticket information...

The Kentucky Bands website (click here)

KMEA Semifinals - Louisville
November 1, 2008, times are EDT

A - Butler Traditional HS (map)

1. 10:00—Cumberland Co. HS
2. 10:15—Paris HS
3. 10:30—Hancock Co. HS
4. 10:45—Nicholas Co. HS
5. 11:00—Owensboro Catholic HS
6. 11:15—Pineville HS
7. 11:30—Russellville HS
8. 11:45—Harlan HS
Break
9. 12:15—Murray HS
10. 12:30—Lee Co. HS
11. 12:45—McLean Co. HS
12. 1:00—Hazard HS
13. 1:15—Mayfield HS
14. 1:30—Beechwood HS
15. 1:45—Lex. Christian Acad.
16. 2:00—Williamstown HS

AA - Pleasure Ridge Park HS (map)

1. 11:00—Todd Co. Central HS
2. 11:15—Russell HS
3. 11:30—Butler Co. HS
4. 11:45—Carroll Co. HS
5. 12:00—Green Co. HS
6. 12:15—Christian Acad. of L'ville
7. 12:30—Edmonson Co. HS
8. 12:45—Henry Co. HS
Break
9. 1:15—Caldwell Co. HS
10. 1:30—Danville HS
11. 1:45—Glasgow HS
12. 2:00—Shelby Valley HS
13. 2:15—Muhlenberg South HS
14. 2:30—Washington Co. HS
15. 2:45—Trigg Co. HS
16. 3:00—Lloyd Memorial HS

AAA - Meade County HS (map)
Aerial view of the campus

1. 11:00—Warren East HS
2. 11:15—North Oldham HS
3. 11:30—Breckinridge Co. HS
4. 11:45—Corbin HS
5. 12:00—Taylor Co. HS
6. 12:15—Powell Co. HS
7. 12:30—Hart Co. HS
8. 12:45—Estill Co. HS
Break
9. 1:15—LaRue Co. HS
10. 1:30—Mason Co. HS
11. 1:45—Muhlenberg North HS
12. 2:00—Garrard Co. HS
13. 2:15—Russell Co. HS
14. 2:30—Highlands HS
15. 2:45—Adair Co. HS
16. 3:00—Bourbon Co. HS

AAAA - South Oldham HS (map)

1. 11:00—Allen Co.-Scottsville HS
2. 11:15—Rowan Co. HS
3. 11:30—Ohio Co. HS
4. 11:45—Grant Co. HS
5. 12:00—Logan Co. HS
6. 12:15—Madison Southern HS
7. 12:30—Anderson Co. HS
8. 12:45—Paul Blazer HS
Break
9. 1:15—Calloway Co. HS
10. 1:30—West Jessamine HS
11. 1:45—Marion Co. HS
12. 2:00—Harrison Co. HS
13. 2:15—South Oldham HS
14. 2:30—Boyle Co. HS
15. 2:45—Madisonville N. Hopkins HS
16. 3:00—Mercer Co. HS

AAAAA - Papa John's at U of L (map)
Parking and warm-up map
Pit Crew Path Map

1. 11:00—Marshall Co. HS
2. 11:15—Bryan Station HS
3. 11:30—Graves Co. HS
4. 11:45—Tates Creek HS
5. 12:00—Greenwood HS
6. 12:15—Montgomery Co. HS
7. 12:30—Henderson Co. HS
8. 12:45—Dixie Heights HS
Break
9. 1:15—North Hardin HS
10. 1:30—Lafayette HS
11. 1:45—Daviess Co. HS
12. 2:00—George Rogers Clark HS
13. 2:15—Central Hardin HS
14. 2:30—Madison Central HS
15. 2:45—John Hardin HS
16. 3:00—Paul Laurence Dunbar HS

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