Marching band fans will have a chance to see over twenty-one bands in action, including the Scotland County R-I marching band, at the 24nd Annual Parade of Champions parade and field show competition at Kahoka, on Saturday, October 10th.
The competition, sponsored by the Clark County R-1 Fine Arts Boosters, will begin with the parade, starting at 2:00 p.m. Eighteen bands including CCR-1 Middle and High School bands will participate in the parade.
The field show competition will start at 5:00 p.m. at the CCR-1 activity field. Thirteen bands will be participating in the competition. Local fans will enjoy exhibition performances by the CCR-1 Middle School band and the CCR-1 Marching Indians.
“This is a great community event. It is amazing to see the way the community and parents pull together,” commented Kari Bevans, president of the Fine Arts Boosters.
Schools scheduled to appear in the parade are Highland High School, South Shelby High School, Putnam County High School, Scotland County High School, Canton High School, Canton Middle School, Palmyra High School, Palmyra Middle School, Adair County R-1, and the CCR-1 Middle School and High Schools from Missouri; Warsaw High School, Quincy High School and Quincy Junior High School from Illinois; Fort Madison High School, Pekin High School and Davis County High School and Davis County Junior High from Iowa.
Bands competing in the field show competition are Highland High School, Hannibal High School and South Shelby High School, Scotland County High School, Putnam County High School, and Palmyra High School in Missouri; Warsaw High School, Illini West High School, and Quincy High School in Illinois; Davis County High School, Pekin High School, Central Lee High School and Ft. Madison High School in Iowa.
“We welcome the other schools and look forward to enjoying their shows and musical talents,” said Bevans.
Some of the field show programs that will be performed are “Phantom Of the Opera” by Palmyra High School, Ft. Madison High School will be performing “Breaking Free” with musical selections including “Gladiator”, “Cell Block Tango” and “One Day More”. Quincy High School will be performing “KA” by Cirque du Soleil, Illini West will be playing selections of Fall Out Boys music, and Pekin High School will play music from the musical “Grease”.
Clark County High School will perform their field show “Mirror Image”, as an exhibition.
“I continue to be amazed at how smooth everything runs each year,” said Bob Dooley, CCR-1 High School music instructor. “That is thanks to our parents and volunteers. It couldn’t be done without them.”
Winners of the parade and field show competitions will be selected based on performance of music, marching precision, auxiliary units, and overall presentation. Special overall awards will be given to the best wind section, best percussion section, best auxiliary unit, best field commander, and best overall or the Sweepstakes Award.
“The money raised from this event allows us to support the fine arts program at the high school, so they can continue the high level of performance that has become a tradition at Clark County. This year the boosters are purchasing the instruments needed for a new drum line,” stated Bevans.
“This is our biggest fundraiser for the Fine Arts Boosters,” added Bevans.
Sweatshirts, T-shirts, concessions, and souvenir programs will all be available for purchase. Admission will be charged for the field show competition.
“Parade of Champions is a wonderful day for our students to perform for their parents and the community,” stated Dooley.