Anita Campbell
County Reporter
The Warsaw High School Marching Band hosted the first-ever Warsaw Marching Festival this past Saturday on the campus of WHS, as well as down Main Street in Warsaw. Eleven bands and 700+ musicians and audience attendees packed the stadium at Randy Morrow Field and the WHS gym.
The day started with a parade competition down Main Street. North Harrison edged out the competition by 3 points. Second place went to Adrian and third went to Pleasant Hope. Sarcoxie and Stover also participated in the parade.
After the parade, the festival moved to the high school, adding six more schools. The afternoon was highlighted by the indoor guard and percussion competitions.
On the guard side, Excelsior Springs was victorious in the Color Guard competition. The percussion sections provided a little more competition with Excelsior Springs coming out on top in the White Class and North Harrison in the Green Class.
At nightfall, the Field Show competition began. Harrisburg got things started off at 6:00pm. They were followed by Sarcoxie and North Harrison in the Green Division. Harrisburg won the class by 9 points.
Taking the field next would be the Black Class consisting of Willow Springs, Buffalo, Fair Grove and Houston. Willow Springs won by .6 points over Buffalo. Fair Grove was next behind Buffalo by 1.4 points. Houston ended up in fourth place, two points behind Fair Grove.
The competition featured the following judges: Douglas Schaffer, Wright City; Paul Baur, Osage Beach; Alisha Baur, Osage Beach; Sherry Nichols, Sparta; Stephanie Frantz, Columbia; and Ben Johnson, Harrisonville.
Curt Thomas and Stephanie Frantz hosted the competition with the help of the Pride of Warsaw Band and their boosters.
Laurie Kedigh, Pride of Warsaw Band Booster President was very pleased with the turnout for the first marching festival.
“It was my honor and privilege to help host the First Annual Marching Band Festival in Warsaw on October 8. These band/color guard students work hard and it was fun to see them dancing and laughing with each other at the end of the evening,” said Kedigh. “We couldn’t have asked for better weather for the kids and spectators! We are already making plans for the festival next year and hope to see you all there!”
