Bands from near and far took to the field at University High School for their fifth annual Showcase of Bands on Monday night.
An extensive evening of music and entertainment of which Band Director Mark Palmer attributes to the hard work of UHS’s band boosters. Five years ago, band boosters alongside Palmer put their heads together to get the tradition started. It’s a process putting it together along with a lot of hard work.
“Our band boosters are awesome. They put this thing on, all I had to do was be a band director,” he said.
He said they run the whole operation, and it’s just a wonderful night. The audience got to see 12 wonderful bands perform in perfect weather.
This year’s field show is called “Get the Led Out” a compilation of Led Zeppelin tunes. He said the nice thing about the show is the audience loves it, the students love it — and of course, he loves it.
“It’s just music that the people enjoy, so that just means that the kids work very hard at it. It means when you do something that is genuinely liked by the people that are putting it on, it’s a lot easier. It doesn’t seem like work. It’s just having fun,” he said.
Palmer also commented on how awesome a lot of the other bands’ shows were. He said we are lucky that in this area, there are so many great bands around with wonderful band programs offered to students.
“We’re always so appreciative of them coming and helping us out with our show, but it’s always fun to see the other bands. There were some great bands here,” he said.
North Marion High School featured several selections by My Chemical Romance, pulling songs from their hit album “The Black Parade.” The Brooke High Marching Band put on a star-studded field show with selections by Elton John. The show was flashy in nature, in true Elton John fashion, with lighted props and colorful costumes.
Phillip Barbour High School also literally illuminated the field as band member’s uniforms donned lighting and majorettes twirled lighted batons. Alderson Broaddus University also dazzled the audience with their baton skills performing to songs by Rihanna and Katy Perry. Hometown favorites Morgantown High School also joined the lineup.
Palmer said the UHS band has a lot going on in the coming weeks starting with WVU homecoming this weekend. UHS has their homecoming next week, as well as participating in another showcase of bands at the end of October.
