Local bands close out successful marching seasons
By Brant Sappington editor@dailycorinthian.com
It was a magnificent marching season for bands in Alcorn County.
Kossuth High School, Alcorn Central High School and Corinth High School closed out successful seasons this weekend as they competed in the state marching band championships at Brandon High School.
Kossuth earned fourth place in the state in class 3A and also received third-place awards for overall effect and visual performance.
Alcorn Central finished ninth in class 3A, and Corinth finished eighth in the state in class 5A.
All three bands earned All Superior ratings at the regional marching band evaluations in Tupelo, the qualifier for the state championship competition.
Kossuth traveled to the Wild West for their 2024 production, “Wanted Dead or Alive,” which featured Bon Jovi’s song of the same name, “Paint it Black” by the Rolling Stones, and themes from “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly” and “The Magnificent Seven.”
Director Brandon Harvell, now in his 13th year at the helm of the Aggie Band, said the students have been excited about the show since the theme was revealed last spring.
He said he’s incredibly proud of the students who have worked tirelessly since band camp began in July through countless practices and performances.
“These kids have really stepped up to the challenge,” he said.
He said he’s also grateful for the strong support from the parents who have provided meals and water, worked the concession stand to raise funds, and helped with travel and many other needs.
“We have an absolutely wonderful set of boosters,” he said.
Kossuth also found success at multiple competitions throughout the season, traveling to compete at Northeast Mississippi Community College and Muscle Shoals, as well as the regional evaluations and the state championship.
Lee Hopson and his wife, Jana Hopson, serve as directors for the Alcorn Central band, which brought a dream-like theme to their show, “Slumber.” He said that as they worked with the Southcoast company to design the show, with him and Jana creating the drill, choreography, and other elements, they had a vision of a dreamy, ethereal show featuring music and colors that created a dreamlike image.
He said he’s so proud of how the students have worked and stepped up to perform the show. The band had no seniors this year and fielded a large number of eighth-graders.
“They hit the ground running and worked so hard,” he said.
It began with band camp in July, where they focused on physically preparing for the demands of the show through physical training and learning the music and choreography.
The season took them Corinth High School’s Crossroads Marching Classic, where they earned all superior ratings and were third in their class, tied for third in their division and earned a first place award for drum major. The claimed a four place award in their division in competition at Northeast Mississippi Community College and aalso earned all superior ratings at the Tennessee Valley Invitational in Muscle Shoals, Ala.
The Hopsons said the band couldn’t do what they do without the support of all the parents.
“We have a great set of parents and we’re seeing a big increase in parental support,” he said.
Whether it’s helping with equipment, meals, water or anything else, they’ve been there to help with it all.
Corinth High School presented “Entranced” this season bringing a spooky vibe to the field with a show that included music from the movie “Hocus Pocus” and the television show “The Twilight Zone” along with others. The show follows the band as it gets entranced or hypnotized, explained director Ben Ratliff.
He said his students have worked extremely hard throughout the season to bring the show to life and he’s so proud of all they accomplished.
The band began the season by hosting the Crossroads Classic competition at CHS and performing in exhibition there. They then earned second place in their division in competition at NEMCC, followed by their all superior ratings at the Tupelo regional and their performance this past weekend.
He said the students battled the heat beginning in July and gave their all at every practice and competition.
“This group has been one of my most dedicated groups from top to bottom,” he said.
This year’s seniors are the first in school history to earn all superior ratings at Tupelo for all of their four years, he noted.
He also pointed to parental support as vital for the program in supporting the band and all its practices and travels and also in putting on their own competition.
“We definitely have a dedicated group of parents,” he said.