This afternoon starting at 3:00 p.m., a total of thirteen high school bands from across South Carolina and Georgia will put their 2016 competition shows on display (many for the first time before fans and judges) during the annual Mustang Classic Band Competition at Midland Valley High School.
The bands will compete in four classifications, based on the size of the schools, before six judges who will rate them based on musical performance, visual performance, and performance effectiveness. Each judge will consider a different aspect of performances according to scoring guidelines provided by the South Carolina Band Directors Association. The band with the highest score will be named the competition’s Grand Champion.
Champions will be recognized in the two smaller classifications and the two larger divisions based on score. Placement awards will be designated by classification.
In addition to scoring, each band will also receive video feedback and specific commentary related to their show from each of the six judges.
“This is a really important element of the competition for all of these bands, and their directors,” stated Midland Valley High School Band Director Kaitlyn Myers, whose band will perform at the competition in exhibition as competition host. “These recordings will be integral to their planning for the next weeks as the bands continue to compete and prepare for state contest.”
Myers says the Mustang Classic positioning on the schedule as one of the first true tests of the band competition season makes the annual contest an important one for the attending bands.
Gates open at 1:30 p.m. and admission is $7 for adults and $4 for students.
“Since our competition is one of the first of the season, this is the first time that many of these shows will have been seen this year so that’s very exciting,” Myers added. “We are thrilled that all of the Aiken County bands will be here and competing together, and this event is one of the biggest fundraisers of the year for our band, so it’s going to be a very big day. We can’t wait!”
Midland Valley High’s band will perform in exhibition at 8:00 p.m. and the competition awards ceremony is scheduled to begin at 8:30 p.m.
19th Annual Mustang Classic Competition Schedule
- 3:00 p.m. — Lincoln County High School, Class A, Lincolnton, Georgia.
- 3:15 p.m. — North Middle/High School, Class A, North.
- 3:30 p.m. — Wagener-Salley High School, Class A, Wagener.
- 3:45 p.m. — Ridge Spring-Monetta High School, Class A, Monetta.
- 4:15 p.m. — Silver Bluff High School, Class AA, Jackson.
- 4:30 p.m. — Wade Hampton High School, Class AA, Hampton.
- 4:45 p.m. — Airport High School, Class AA, West Columbia.
- 6:15 p.m. — South Aiken High School, Class AAA, Aiken.
- 6:30 p.m. — Brookland-Cayce High School, Class AAA, Cayce.
- 6:45 p.m. — Aiken High School, Class AAA, Aiken.
- 7:15 p.m. — T.L. Hanna High School, Class AAAA, Anderson.
- 7:30 p.m. — Lakeside High School, Class AAAA, Evans, Georgia.
- 7:45 p.m. — North Augusta High School, Class AAAA, North Augusta.