A winning Rock Hill area tradition marches on: What’s ahead for high school bands
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Rock Hill-area bands claim 63 state titles, over 20% of total since 1959.
- Great Falls concert band to perform at Carowinds Festival of Music in April.
- Band enrollment nearly doubled since 2022, reaching 84 students for 2025-26.
Where do thieves, pirates, archers, mountain climbers and stargazers join mind-bending illusions, dreamscapes and alternate versions of reality? This fall, they’ll all adorn football fields across the Rock Hill region with the start of another marching band season.
High school bands here aren’t some halftime novelty.
The three-county region boasts a combined 63 state marching titles, more than 1 out of every 5 handed out statewide since 1959.
The Herald reached out to band directors across York, Lancaster and Chester counties to find out what fans can expect to see and hear this fall. Here’s what they have planned, in their own words:
Pride of Clover Marching Band
School: Clover High School
Director: Rick Langdale
Classification: 6A
2025 Show: “The Archer”
Show Description: Featuring the music of “William Tell” by Gioachino Rossini, “Nessun Dorma” by Giacomo Puccini and original works by Andrew Markworth, the show utilizes imagery of archery, bullseyes and targets. It’s set during the early Renaissance.
Biggest Event: We are competing at the Pride of the Mountains Tournament of Champions at Western Carolina University on Oct. 18 and we have the 6A state championships on Nov. 1 in Spartanburg.
Band Facts: This year is the largest the marching band has ever been in quite some time, potentially ever, with just over 260 performers. This year is also an historic year as we will be performing on Jan. 1, 2026, in the 137th Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California. Clover will only be the seventh band to perform in the Rose Parade from South Carolina, and the first one in over 22 years.
Fort Mill High School Band
School: Fort Mill High School
Director: Ren Patel
Classification: 5A
2025 Show: “Home for the Holidays”
Show Description: Our show starts in the December bustle of New York City and journeys to a small hometown and family gathering for the holidays.
Biggest Event: While competing in local, state and Bands of America events this fall, we’ll also be raising funds (Notes for Heroes campaign) for our Memorial Day 2026 performance at the St. Mihiel American Cemetery in eastern France. We will honor Sgt. Tom Hall (who earned the Medal of Honor and was killed in eastern France during WWI), as well as all 40 Fort Mill servicemen who gave their lives in WWI and WWII (many of them killed in France). We will honor the Fort Mill soldier buried at St. Mihiel American Cemetery and the one at Epinal American Cemetery (Sgt. Hall’s body is buried at Unity Cemetery in FM). We will also visit Switzerland in the days before the ceremony, since these two military cemeteries are close to Zurich and the Swiss border.
Band Facts: After the split to start Catawba Ridge High School (2019) and the COVID shutdown of marching bands (2020), the Fort Mill High School Band has grown back to over 200 members. The band has won 24 marching band state championships since 1976. And the band has represented South Carolina in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade (1986), the Tournament of Roses Parade (1995), and the Dublin St. Patrick’s Day Parade (2013 and 2023). We have honored American veterans at Pearl Harbor three times (1998, 2002, 2007) and the Normandy American Cemetery in France (2016).
Rock Hill High School Band of Distinction
School: Rock Hill High School
Director: Scott Fleischman
Classification: 5A
2025 Show: “Now You See Me”
Show Description: Using the song “Hide and Seek” by Imogen Heap as a throughline, “Now You See Me” is a fresh take on both that tune and visual ideas involving a double-sided costume that allows the performers to at times blend into the field and props. Performers will tell a story of being hidden in the crowd to being noticed on the main stage.
Biggest Event: The Rock Hill Band of Distinction will be performing at the SCBDA 5A State Marching Band Championships at River Bluff High School. The band will be traveling to Hawaii in the 2026-27 school year.
Band Facts: The Rock Hill Band of Distinction has been highly successful across several different performance mediums. The band is comprised of a superior rated marching band, two superior rated concert ensembles, gold medalist winter guard and a Winter Guard International world champion semi-finalist indoor percussion ensemble. The Rock Hill Band has been awarded the SCBDA Outstanding Performance Award 24 out of the past 25 years.
Nation Ford High School Marching Band
School: Nation Ford High School
Director: Ray Linkous
Classification: 5A
2025 Show: “Out of the Blue”
Show Description: “Out of the Blue” is an abstract tribute to the Southeast region of the United States —specifically, the Blue Ridge Mountain region. The music and visual interpretation is inspired by a sunset over the Blue Ridge countryside, with the choreography and movement being inspired by the famous American dancer and choreographer, Martha Graham.
Biggest Event: The Nation Ford band will be competing at the Bands of America Grand National Championships at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis from Nov. 13-15.
Band Facts: The Nation Ford band last competed at Grand Nationals in the fall of 2023 and made it to the semifinals round where it was ranked 23rd out of over 100 competing bands across the country. Last fall, the band was awarded its 10th state championship since it opened in 2007 at the South Carolina Band Director Association’s 5A state championship competition.
Indian Land High School Marching Warrior Band
School: Indian Land High School
Director: Shelly Strauss
Classification: 5A
2025 Show: “Strings of Fate”
Show Description: The show is centered around a famous legend. “As legend has it there is a red string that connects us to those we are destined to meet regardless of time and place. The thread may stretch or tangle but it will never break.” The band is playing music from a mixture of musical genres, including composers Tchaikovsy, Mosetich and Musgraves. The band will depict the red strings of fate visually by using 10 large props that will have large red spandex strings in the center. Band members will roll the props around the field in the show and manipulate the strings as the show unfolds.
Biggest Event: This year the Indian Land Warrior Band will be performing at Coastal Carolina University. This event is a Bands of America/Music For All competition.
Band Facts: This year the Warrior Band is under new leadership. Shelly Strauss is the new Head Band Director and Joshua Roper is the new Associate Band Director.
Northwestern High School Purple Regiment
School: Northwestern High School
Director: Scot McGuire
Classification: 5A
2025 Show: “Rewrite the Stars”
Show Description: Rewrite the Stars is inspired by the beauty and mystery of the night sky, the boldness of dreamers, and the timeless question of “what if?” Through music that captures wonder and ambition — “Rewrite the Stars” (The Greatest Showman), “Sky Full of Stars” (Coldplay), “Rocketman” (Elton John), and “Light Up the Sky” (Christina Aguilera) — the show invites audiences to imagine a world where the stars are not just above us, but within our reach.
Biggest Event: This fall, we will travel to compete at the Bands of America Regional Championship in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Looking ahead, the Northwestern Symphonic Band has been invited to perform at Carnegie Hall in New York City in March 2026.
Band Facts: The Purple Regiment is experiencing exciting growth and momentum across all areas of our program. This year alone, over 30 students earned placements in region and all-state ensembles, including the South Carolina All-State Band, All-State Jazz Band. Students have also been selected for national-level honor bands, national symposiums and individual participation in the Bands of America Honor Band in the Rose Parade. Our Symphonic Band recently performed Grade 6 masterworks — some of the most advanced literature in the wind band repertoire — demonstrating a level of musical maturity the South Carolina State Concert Performance Assessment that translates directly into powerful, emotionally driven fall performances. This upward trajectory continues to elevate both the student experience and the community pride in what we’re building in the Northwestern High School Bands.
Catawba Ridge High School Marching Band
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School: Catawba Ridge High School
Director: Patrick Butler
Classification: 4A
2025 Show: “This Version of You”
Show Description: “This Version of You” invites audiences into an emotional journey of self-reflection, growth and transformation. Through striking visual effect, powerful music and evocative staging, the Catawba Ridge Marching Band explores what it means to meet and embrace different versions of yourself along life’s path. This production challenges performers and viewers alike to see themselves in a new light and step boldly into the unfamiliar.
Biggest Event: We are doing two Bands of America Regional competitions and the South Carolina 4A state championship. But our biggest event is participating in the 2025 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade this November.
Band Facts: The Catawba Ridge High School Marching Band is proud to enter its sixth competitive season. A three-time South Carolina State Champion, the band achieved national recognition last year by earning 2nd place in Class 2A at the Bands of America Grand National Championships and finishing 19th overall out of 112 bands.
The Pride of York Cougar Marching Band
School: York Comprehensive High School
Director: Laura Brooks
Classification: 4A
2025 Show: “Stellar”
Show Description: The 2025 show depicts the brilliance, the brightness and the ethereal essence of the celestial beings, stars.
Biggest Event: The 4A State Championship. We are also traveling to Orlando, Florida, this fall. The highlight of the trip will be a full day in the new Universal’s Epic Universe Theme park that just opened in May.
Band Facts: Our band program has traveled a great deal in the recent past including performing at a holiday bowl game, performing in Carnegie Hall, Indianapolis, Williamsburg, Virginia, Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York City, Universal Studios and Disney World. Our band program has a rich history of strong success and community involvement. We have continued the tradition of our first York High band director, John Bostic, running a biannual Fish Fry fundraiser. The fundraiser is locally famous and has been in existence for nearly 40 years. The dates for the fry this school year are Sept, 6-7 from noon to 6 p.m., and Jan. 24-25 from noon to 6 p.m. at York Middle School.
Lancaster High School Bruin Band
School: Lancaster High School
Director: Ethan Dyer
Classification: 4A
2025 Show: “To Catch a Thief”
Show Description: Inspired by movies and stories like “Mission Impossible,” the show is about the theft of a precious diamond and the thief’s attempt to escape.
Biggest Event: Every year, we travel to Loris High School for our end-of-the-year competition. This trip includes the students’ favorite tradition, a stop at Buc-ee’s. It is the culmination of their season and the students’ favorite competition.
Band Facts: The Bruin Band is a former 5A state finalist marching band. Starting in 2018, when I became director, the band has grown from 17 students to 55, and received our first Superior Rating last season. This year is the first year we have a full staff and are looking forward to continuing to grow.
South Pointe Band of Thunder
School: South Pointe High School
Director: James Turner
Classification: 3A
2025 Show: “Twisted”
Show Description: It’s being twisted from both a mental standpoint and an emotional standpoint. We’re using optical illusions in the show, and all of the sudden in the end it becomes clear. Most of the music is coming from “Sweeney Todd.”
Biggest Event: State competition, definitely, on Oct. 25. And then just the local contests that we do, that sort of thing. Also, our Concert Performance Assessment performance, which is in March, is a big performance for us.
Band Facts: We’re kind of reimaging the band this year with new logos. We’re going to have new logos on our semi and trailers. We’re kind of rebirthing the band this year, with the school being here 20 years. We’re young this year, and kind of redrawing what we’re doing.
Andrew Jackson Volunteer Regiment
School: Andrew Jackson High School
Director: Andrew Sokolowski
Classification: 1A 2025 Show: “Distorted Reality” Show Description: Distorted Reality” is a show of musical and visual extremes. Music like the prelude from the 1960 movie “Psycho” and “Mind Heist” from the movie “Inception” offers a dark and aggressive musical landscape, while our selections “Danse Macabre” and “Gymnopedie No. 1” present the audience with a sensation of quiet before the storm. The music and visuals are ever-changing. Biggest Event: We are looking forward to 1A State Championships. As of now, I have a friendly bet with our band members: if we make Top 5 in Finals, I will dress up in a tutu and fairy wings of their choosing. The energy and dedication is there, so we’ll see if it becomes a reality. Band Facts: The Volunteer Regiment had an incredibly difficult year before I arrived in 2024. Last year was the band’s time to warm back up to the competitive world and to feel everything out. This year, we have amazing staff on board and a thriving positive culture amongst the students. We are small this year, but we are mighty, passionate, focused and committed to do our absolute best.
Buford High School Marching Yellow Jackets
School: Buford High School
Director: Patrick O’Neal
Classification: 1A
2025 Show: “The Ascent”
Show Description: The show is about climbing a mountain. We’ll have props to give a sense of height and elevation. We will also have some amazing soloists as well.
Biggest Event: We are going to the 1A Upper State Marching Championship this year. It would be our first performance in the 1A Upper state Championship since 2018. We hope to have that be our best showing of the season. It will give us something to look forward to and strive for.
Band Facts: We had a somewhat rough season last year and decided it was time to change how we did things with our day-to-day routines and how we bring students into the marching program. This year we held auditions for marching band and will hold auditions for soloists as well. We have a great group this year of young and hungry marchers. We’re all excited to see where this new process and routine will take us.
York Preperatory Academy Band of Revolution
School: York Preparatory Academy
Director: Gary Rogers
Classification: 1A
2025 Show: “Dead Men Tell No Tales”
Show Description: This is a nautical-themed marching band show that tells the tale of pirate life on the seven seas.
Biggest Event: The biggest event on our fall calendar this season is the 1A State Marching Championships. This coming spring, the Band of Revolution has been invited to participate as a representative of South Carolina in the 250th Memorial Day Celebration Parade in Washington, DC!
Band Facts: The Band of Revolution has been rated by the SCBDA as one of the state’s top 10 1A Marching Bands since 2016.
Lewisville Marching Lions
School: Lewisville High School
Director: Travis Foster
Classification: 1A
2025 Show: “.....Within Dreams”
Show Description: Follow us on journey through the mysteries and oddities of dreaming and the unconsciousness of the mind.
Biggest Event: Each year the marching band travels to Myrtle Beach for the Coastal Carolina Classic and a weekend of fun.
Band Facts: Over the past five years, the Lewisville Band program has grown in many areas of participation and performance thanks to decades of dedicated community and school support. Receiving a grant from the Lutz Foundation, the Lewisville Band was able to obtain a new trailer and a new look thanks to Custom Wraps.
Red Devils Pep Band
School: Great Falls High School
Director: Krislynne Stowe
Classification: 1A
2025 Performances: Our pep band will be playing at every home football game. Our concert band has two concerts each year, one in the winter and one in the spring. The one in the winter is a collaborative event with the chorus and art programs. We also perform as a chamber ensemble at the Great Falls Christmas Parade in November. Additionally, the concert band is planning to take our first trip to the Carowinds Festival of Music in April.
Show Description: The Great Falls Pep Band is a high-energy performing group that brings school spirit to life under Friday night lights. We perform a mix of classic stand tunes, upbeat pop, drum cadences and even rock to help keep the team and crowd fired up.
Biggest Event: The biggest event on our calendar this year is the Great Falls Concert Band performing at the Carowinds Festival of Music. This trip will include around 50 talented students from the 7th through 12th grade band classes.
Band Facts: Our band has grown significantly within the past four years. With just 44 members in 6th-12th grade band during the 2022-23 school year, the program has nearly doubled since. We have 84 talented musicians in the band program for the 2025-26 school year, and we are only expecting to see more growth in the next few years. The hope is that this continued growth gives opportunity for a true marching band and other ensembles like jazz band.
*Great Falls will not field a marching band this season.
This story was originally published September 3, 2025 at 5:30 AM.
