Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

By NOAH WORTHAM | Managing Editor

ALEXANDER CITY – Band students from Spain Park High School, Oak Mountain High School and Montevallo High School recently returned back home with a series of accolades after traveling to compete in the annual Lake Martin Invitational.

On Saturday, Oct. 5, 20 bands performed during the annual Lake Martin Invitational Marching Contest at the Charles E. Bailey Sportsplex in Alexander City.

During the event, three bands from Shelby County High School competed before the judges and successfully took home a list of accolades for their hard work.

After competing in Class AA, Montevallo High School’s Marching Troubadours walked away from the competition with all Superiors. Additionally, Will Hayes was named Best Overall Soloist.

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 is entitled, “Music Selections from Moulin Rouge” and includes 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.”

After making their very appearance at the Lake Martin Invitational, Oak Mountain High School’s The Spirit of Cahaba band earned Superior ratings in all captions and took home multiple awards, including Best in Open Class Band, percussion, drum major, color guard and majorettes. OMHS also received the highest music score, marching score and highest total score for the competition.

The Spirit of Cahaba band  is led by band directors Kevin Ownby and Dr. Travis Bender with assistant directors Chanse Nelson, Zack Feldman, Stephanie Chapman and Heather Holmes. 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 this year is entitled, “Imagine: Music of Dream and Fantasy” and includes arrangements such as “Once upon a Dream,” “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice,” Disney’s “Fantasmic,” “How to Train Your Dragon” and Stravinsky’s “Firebird.”

Spain Park High School also found success during their first competition of the season at the Lake Martin Invitational in Class AAAA. SPHS’s Pride of the Park Marching Band took home numerous awards, including Superior ratings in all captions, Best in Class Dance, Best in Class Feature Twirler, Best in Class Colorguard, Best in Class Drum Major, Best in Class Band, High Woodwinds and Most Entertaining Band.

The Pride in the Parking Marching Band is led by Director of Bands Drew Ellis alongside Assistant Director of Bands Richard Adams.

SPHS’s show this year is entitled, “The Caged Bird Sings” and includes selections such as “Learn to Fly” by the Foo Fighters, “Fly Like an Eagle,” “Swan Lake,” “Black Bird” by The Beatles and “Free Bird” by Lynyrd Skynyrd.

This year’s installment of the Lake Martin Invitational closed out with an exhibition from Huntingdon College.