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Fanfare puts attention on 10 outstanding marching band performances

Outstanding performances filled the Stuart W. Cramer High School stadium on Saturday, November 2, with a focus on the impressive halftime shows by all 10 of the high school marching bands in ����app County Schools. 

Participating in the 2024 Marching Band Fanfare were bands from Ashbrook, Bessemer City, Cherryville, Stuart W. Cramer, East ����app, Forestview, Highland, Hunter Huss, North ����app, and South Point.  The event featured each school presenting music themed around various concepts, and the students’ musical performances were enhanced by color guard and dance routines.

This year was particularly special as the Highland band showcased its first field show titled “Take ‘Em to Mars,” featuring popular songs by Bruno Mars. It was also great to see the Hunter Huss High School band return to the Marching Band Fanfare after being unable to perform in 2023 due to the illness of band director Heaven Watson-Weary.

Stuart W. Cramer High School band director Kameron Radford coordinated the event with support from the high school and middle school band directors and the dedicated Raging Storm Band Boosters.

Radford stated, “This program gives each high school marching band a chance to showcase the halftime show that they have been perfecting since August.  The event also serves as a valuable opportunity for band students from across ����app County to interact, sharing ideas and insights into the creative world of marching bands.”

The Marching Band Fanfare is a ����app County Schools tradition that dates back to the 1980s. Although it was discontinued in 1991, the Fanfare was revived in its current format in 2007 and has been held annually at various high schools, including East ����app, South Point, North ����app, Cherryville, Bessemer City, and Stuart W. Cramer.

Here is a list of the performances for the 2024 Marching Band Fanfare:

• Highland School of Technology: “Take Em to Mars,” under the direction of Noah Williams and drum majors Maeve Jacobs and Gavin Burton (also performed the national anthem to kick off the program)
• Ashbrook High School: “Monstrous,” under the direction of Josh Westbrook and drum major Miles Funderburk
• South Point High School: “Earth, Wind, and Fire,” under the direction of Tim Hamilton and drum major Logan Farnham
• Cherryville High School: “Spring Forward,” under the direction of Cole Crawford and drum major Arrow Lackey
• Hunter Huss High School: “A Time to Dance,” under the direction of Heaven Watson-Weary and drum majors Isaiah Martin and Jazlyn Hernandez
• Forestview High School: “And Rain Will Make the Flowers Grow,” under the direction of Avery Grey and drum major Gabbie Taylor
• North ����app High School: “Ghost Ship,” under the direction of Tim Reed and drum major Ronald Tovilla-Pablo
• Bessemer City High School: “1984: The Year in Rock and Pop,” under the direction of Keith Grush and drum majors Andrew Correa and Daiana Salinas
• East ����app High School: “Stained,” under the direction of Brandon Taylor and drum majors Ashleigh Fox and Mackenzie Hart
• Stuart W. Cramer High School: “Petrified,” under the direction of Kameron Radford and Malyk Adams and drum majors Skylar Martin and Copeland Smith
  
  

The ����app County Schools Communications Department recorded the event for broadcast on Spectrum Cable Channel 21, the school district’s television station. The band performances will be edited into two programs that are set to air in December.