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The annual Shelby County Showcase of Bands took place on Tuesday, Sept. 10 at Heardmont Park and featured seven bands from Shelby County Schools. (For the Reporter/Jason Homan)

By NOAH WORTHAM | Managing Editor

NORTH SHELBY – A passionate performance of “America the Beautiful” echoed throughout Heardmont Park as all seven marching bands joined together in unison at the close of the annual Shelby County Showcase of Bands.

The 2024 installment of the showcase was hosted by Oak Mountain High School in Heardmont Park on Tuesday, Sept. 10 as every marching band in Shelby County Schools joined together to show off their talents and halftime performances.

“This year’s event was the largest turnout we’ve had at Heardmont Park, with the home stands completely sold out and the visiting stands being used for overflow seating,” said Dr. Travis Bender, associate director of bands at OMHS. “We are thrilled that the seven communities in the Shelby County school system came out to see these students perform.”

Bender said that each year the showcase provides a unique outlet for students to receive feedback from a panel of music and marching experts outside of a competitive environment. The students and directors will be able to review that feedback to enhance their halftime shows and prepare for the band competitions later this fall.

“The entire crowd is there to watch and support the marching arts, so our students have a captive audience of music fans, which is really special,” Bender said. “You can usually hear a pin drop right before a show starts, but a colossal round of applause at the conclusion of each show.”

The night opened with Montevallo High School’s Montevallo Marching Troubadours whose 50 students delivered a show with gentle dynamics accentuated by solos and unique instrumental accompaniments.

The Troubadours are led by Band Director Brian Hodges alongside Drill Coordinator and Auxiliary Instructor Ashley Medders, Band Assistant Doug Kennedy, Drum Major Ailie Cunningham and Color Guard captains Lizzie Keith and Abby Genry.

Montevallo’s show this year was entitled, “Music Selections from Moulin Rouge” and included songs such as “Nature Boy,” “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend,” “Lady Marmalade,” “One Day I’ll Fly Away,” “Roxanne” and “Rhythm of the Night.”

The bright pink plumes of Shelby County High School’s Pride of Shelby County Marching Band radiated against the black and grey night as the band delivered the second show highlighted by a brass-forward sound and spoken word audio passages.

The Pride of Shelby County’s 56-member band is led by Band Director Matt Martindale, Auxiliary Sponsor Anna Slay, Drum Major Abby Nave, Color Guard Captain Izzy Cox and Majorette Captain Addison Grigsby.

Shelby County’s show, “Kaleidoscope” included songs such as “Fireball,” “Paint it Black” and “Dance the Night.”

Glints of gold drifted across the field as Vincent Middle High School’s 66 member Yellow Jacket Marching Band took the field for the next performance and delivered a percussive show accentuated by electric guitar and baritone saxophone accompaniments.

The Yellow Jackets are led by Band Director Landon Manning, Color Guard and Danceline Sponsor Kaylin Knox and Drum Major Emily Morgan as well as Field Captain Jordynne Rose, Percussion captains Layton Harlow and Emma Brown, Woodwind Captain Kearstyn Jones and Brass Captain Johnathon Matthews. The Color Guard Captain is Kathy Beasley and the Dance Team Captain is Macaylah Cooper assisted by Co-captain Allison Dougherty.

Vincent’s show entitled, “Legacy of Smiles,” included tracks such as “Oo De Lally,” “How Far I’ll go,” “This is Halloween,” “A Spoonful of Sugar,” “A Bug’s Life Suite,” “The Time of Your Life” and “You Got a Friend in Me.”

Calera High School’s Soaring Sound of Dixie followed Vincent with a vibrant, electric debut that led into a harmonious roar from the full ensemble which features 123 students.

The Soaring Sound of Dixie is led by Band Director Luke Manning and Assistant Director Amy Lee alongside Auxiliary Sponsors Ashlee Hall and Jennifer Rosenow. The band’s drum majors are Lilly Barnes and Yanna Johnson with Band Captain Ben Atwell, Color Guard captains Mckenzie Boyd and Madison Honeycutt, Majorette Captain Briana Littleton and Dance Team Captain Aubrey Williams.

Calera’s show, “Move It!” included arrangements such as “Stand,” “Walk Like an Egyptian,” “Walk the Dinosaur,” “Chariots of Fire,” Fall on Me,” “Moving Right Along,” “Jump and Jive and Wail,” “Bouncing Around the Room” and “Jump on It.”

Chelsea High School’s Marching Hornet Pride began its show with a soft piano opening that crescendoed with tracks punctuated by a vigorous saxophone section, ethereal xylophones and a flashy finish from its color guard.

Comprised of 155 members, the Marching Hornet Pride is led by Band Director Perry Lawley and Assistant Director Trace Johnson alongside auxilary sponsors Sarah Beth Cobb, Amy Lovelace, Chloe Seabrooke and Christine Sexton. The band’s drum majors are Naomi Cost, Lilly Palmer and Cassidy Short with help from Band Captain Christian Sullivan and Color Guard captains Kaleigh Carmack, Cassidy Dunnavant, Cheyanne Kick and Laura Stephenson. The Majorette captains are Isabel DeLoach and Madison Howard and the Dance Team captains are Abbie Deems, Anna Grace Robbins and Ruby Shelnutt.

Chelsea’s show was entitled, “Heavy is the Crown” and featured tracks such as “Everybody Wants to Rule the World,” “Edge of Glory,” “Vienna” and “Viva La Vida.”

A sparkling dance line delivered a captivating display alongside a punchy delivery by the brass section during a dynamic show by Helena High School’s Helena Husky Marching Band.

Featuring 188 Huskies, Helena’s band is led by band directors Jeff Burnside and Brent Taylor with Assistant Directors Katie Burnside, Mark Hendren and Mark McDonald alongside Auxiliary sponsors Jenni Russell and Lindsey Watson. The drum majors are Thomas Washer, Kaden Vanderford and Alexandros Chingas with band captains Amanda Jusino and Pamela Molina and Color Guard captains Aaleah Lewis and Avery Parton. The Majorette captains are Elise Anderson and Madison Randall and the Dance Team captains are Lydia Bagette and Reagan Landry.

The Husky’s show, entitled, “Night Fury,” featured tracks such as “Night on Bald Mountain,” “Music of the Night,” “Oh What a Night,” “Rhythm of the Night” and “All Night Long.”

A single student emerged from the smoke of a large cauldron in the center of the field to deliver an instrumental display during the final show by Oak Mountain High School’s Spirit of Cahaba Marching Band. The performance was highlighted by a punchy drum line, a stand-out trumpet line and heavy deep brass.

“I’m continually impressed with our students’ ability to push the envelope in the marching arts,” Bender said. “We always tell our students that the band each year is a unique entity, and will become whatever they desire it to be. If we have a group where everyone desires to achieve excellence, there is nothing stopping us from reaching our maximum potential. In my eyes, we are successfully working toward that goal at Oak Mountain High School this year, and I couldn’t be more proud.”

The 305-member Spirit of Cahaba is led by band directors Kevin Ownby and Dr. Travis Bender with assistant directors Chanse Nelson, Zack Feldman, Stephanie Chapman and Heather Holmes. The Color Guard Sponsor Natalie Chartrand is joined by Dance Team Sponsor Jennifer Porteous and Majorette Sponsor Shelby Espy. Drum majors are Grant Gillespie, Sophia Kwon and Kayla Song with help from band captains Grant Butterfield, Cannon Russell, Drennen Sears and Morgan Lee. The Color Guard co-captains are Morgan Ferguson and Azland Trotter with  Majorette co-captains Belle Casey and Grier Feldman alongside Dance Team co-captains Sammy Esparza and Edie Phillips.

Oak Mountain’s show was entitled, “Imagine: Music of Dream and Fantasy” and included arrangements such as “Once upon a Dream,” “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice,” Disney’s “Fantasmic,” “How to Train Your Dragon” and Stravinsky’s “Firebird.”

“As a big Disney fan, I’ve really enjoyed watching our kids make the music from ‘Fantasmic’ come to life,” Bender said. “If you haven’t seen our show, I would encourage you to come to an Oak Mountain football game or future band competition and check it out.”

Bender spoke positively of the performances delivered during the showcase by every band that evening and shared some of his favorites.

“Every single band at the Shelby County Showcase had a unique and entertaining performance for the crowd,” Bender said. “Some of the highlights for me were Montevallo’s “Roxanne,’ Shelby County’s “Dance the Night,’ Vincent’s “This Is Halloween,’ Calera’s “Walk the Dinosaur,’ Chelsea’s “Everybody Wants to Rule the World’ and Helena’s  “Oh What A Night.” All of these tunes had the crowd clapping and singing along. The whole night was a lot of fun.”

Bender expressed his appreciation to Shelby County Schools for putting on this year’s showcase.

“We appreciate Dr. Lewis Brooks, Shelby County Schools’ superintendent, as well as our entire board of education and administrative team from each school for supporting the event and highlighting the marching bands in our school system,” Bender said.

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