Band marches its way to awards

The Warren County High School band is finishing a winning season with four trophies and one plaque.

‘It was an amazing year,’ said Warren County band director Duane Farnham. ‘I think the best thing was the crowd reaction. Since my time here at the high school, this year has been the best crowd reaction. It is nice to hear the people singing along with the marching show.’

The band travels and participates in several competitions throughout the year. The band brought home four trophies from three competitions with drum major Landry Duvall lending his hand, or in this case hands, to bring home three of his own.

During the Tri-State Championship at Finley Stadium on the UT-Chattanooga campus, the band brought home third place competing in the Class 4 open division.

At the Choo-Choo Classic held at Hixson High School in Tennessee, the band took third place in class AA, and also third place in the small division, best in class drum major, highest overall score for the drum major, and a plaque with their ratings.

At the Southern Invitational Music Festival in Marietta, Ga., the group brought home trophies for the most outstanding drum major in the silver division and best drum major in class AA, as well as third place in class AA, and small division.

Farnham says it’s the band’s objective to make the audience happy and this year was no exception with songs from the rock group Queen. The band’s favorite song to play was ‘Rep Yo City.’ Farnham says the audience reaction was greatest to ‘Bohemian Rhapsody.’ When the band played the song, the audience often sang the lyrics, he said.

The trophies and plaque will be kept in the front trophy case in the main lobby of the high school.

The band will continue to practice in preparation for next year’s competitions.