UA’s Million Dollar Band performs at PHS during Crimson Cavalcade of Bands

Published 7:34 pm Thursday, September 19, 2024

By Staff Reports

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By LEAH INGRAM EAGLE | Special to the Reporter

PELHAM – Pelham High School Stadium saw a flurry of activity on Wednesday, Sept. 18 as seven high school bands from around the area took part in the Crimson Cavalcade of Bands event.

The event, which was sponsored by The University of Alabama’s Million Dollar Band, provided high school marching bands the opportunity to perform for other area high school bands in a supportive and non-competitive environment.

Pelham band director Justin Ward said the event was a huge success and brought in more than 1,000 high school and collegiate band performers who were able to perform in front of an appreciative and supportive crowd.

“We had a very large crowd of around 3,000 people on campus to support music education not only in Pelham, but in other schools in locations within the Birmingham metro area,” Ward said. “We are thankful for the support of everyone who was in attendance and for the support of our own community supporting the event and our school system for allowing it to happen.”

The seven high school bands who performed their halftime shows were: Pelham High School, Hoover High School, Minor High School, Shades Valley High School, Shelby County High School, Briarwood Christian School and American Christian Academy from Tuscaloosa.

The final band of the evening was the 400-member Million Dollar Band from the University of Alabama, who performed their first show of their marching season “Million Dollar Divas.”

With their performance, the high school band students were able to get invaluable feedback from a panel of music educators who were able to give them commentary on their show.

Ward said the commentary they received will help guide their preparations for competitions as they continue to move forward with the remainder of the marching season.

“Our students were very excited about the event because they were able to see other high school bands and be able to enjoy their performance and support them,” Ward said. “A lot of times at halftime, it’s very quick paced, so we’re not able to fully appreciate what the other band is doing. To be able to observe from the stands in a controlled environment was appreciated by them.”

Ward said that it was good for the students to be able to see the UA band and what opportunities exist beyond high school for them relative to performance. For some of the UA band members, it was a homecoming of sorts.

“They most definitely enjoyed seeing the Million Dollar Band, and even more importantly relative to that is we have seven students who were in our (Pelham) band program who are currently in the Million Dollar Band, including one of the drum majors and one of the trumpet section leaders,” Ward said. “We also have a former student and instructor who is now on staff with colorguard for the Million Dollar Band as well.”

Ward said for those students who got their start at Pelham High School and now are performing in one of the greatest college marching bands in the country, being able to perform again at PHS was a full circle moment.

The evening had special meaning for Ward too. He is a former member of the Million Dollar Band and also came back and served as a graduate assistant.

“I continue to write music for them and serve on the Friends of the Million Dollar Band Support Group for them,” he said. “To be able to start as a student in that band and now welcome them to the campus I’m blessed to teach on, the word special does not begin to describe it.”

The event was incredibly helpful for the PHS band as the host, as they were able to raise funds through tickets sales and concessions. Ward said money raised would contribute to the band’s normal operations budget, but will help in the purchase of new instruments that are needed as the program is experiencing substantial growth.

The PHS band has 162 members, and there are currently 300 students in the middle school program.

“The numbers are substantial there as they’re working their way up to the high school level,” Ward said. “We have experienced good growth this year and anticipate even more growth over the next few years. Anything we can do to help prepare for that and make sure we have everything we need to run a top notch band program.”

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