Fort Mill Band wins BOA Regional Grand Championship

Rain caused troubles throughout the region over the weekend, including for marching band competitions. Both Nation Ford and Indian Land marching bands were scheduled to compete in the Hickory Ridge Tournament of Bands, which was canceled due to weather.

But in Powder Springs, Ga., the Bands of America Regional Championship continued as scheduled, and the Fort Mill Marching Band walked away damp, but with a Grand Championship win.

The rain was a constant drizzle for much of the day of competition, but a downpour began as the band took the field and continued through the first part of the performance. Despite the wind and rain, the band captured first place in Class 3A and first place overall, out-pointing the tournament’s defending champion Harrison High School out of Kennesaw, Ga. The Fort Mill Band also took home awards for Best Visual Performance and Best General Effect.

The students handled the weather with ease, said Director John Pruitt.

“The students didn't react to the shower in the least,” he said.

“They were in performance mode and took the field as if it were a perfect, sunny day. We (the staff and pit crew) were worried about electronics, microphones, woodwind instruments, percussion tuning, and plenty of other things, but there was nothing we could do but start the show on time,” said Pruitt.

This was the second time the Fort Mill Band has finished first overall at a Bands of America Regional. The first time was in 2011 at the University of Akron.

As the band prepares for the remainder of competition season, they focus on refining the performance, Pruitt said.

“We now come to the time of the season where the students are comfortable enough with the demands of the show that we can begin the journey of making it a more artistic and seamless production,” he said.

Bands of America sponsors 19 regional championship events this year, culminating in the Bands of America National Championship in Indianapolis.

This Saturday, both the Nation Ford and Fort Mill bands will compete in another Bands of America Regional at Wake Forest. Indian Land’s next competition will be the Blythewood Tournament of Bands on Oct. 17.

This story was originally published October 5, 2015 at 11:41 AM with the headline "Fort Mill Band wins BOA Regional Grand Championship."