The Kellam Marching Knights travelled to Harrisonburg, VA to compete in the JMU Parade of Champions hosted by the Marching Royal Dukes of JMU.
The entire band met in the band room directly after school to complete check in and to exchange their “Secret Pal” gift bags and to get some last minute instruction from Mr. Baker. Everyone received a gift bag and all were excited to open them and see what their secret pal gave them for the trip. The trucks were loaded and the luggage was checked and loaded and then it was time to set off.
The band traveled in a rented coach followed by the Penske truck and the pickup truck and trailer hauling the tractors. The plan was to break up the 4+ hour trip to Harrisonburg by stopping in Short Pump, VA for some bowling and pizza. Everyone arrived at the bowling alley within about an hour of each other. There were some traffic issues getting through the tunnel and in Newport News, but everyone arrived safe and sound. The kids, siblings and some of the parents had a blast trying to throw non-gutter balls while eating pizza, salad and soda. The pizza was pretty good… and gone pretty fast!
After the bowling and pizza party, we all loaded up in our vehicles for the rest of the trip to the hotel. The chaperones and trucks, having left the bowling center early, arrived at the hotel first. After a significant amount of planning the locations for the kids' rooms, we were able to make sure that each kid room was next to a chaperone room. The kids arrived with the bus and it was unloaded. The kids, along with their luggage were sent off to their rooms to settle in and get some sleep.
Wake up was at 6AM and the kids were up and getting their breakfasts by 6:30. Getting uniforms, stowing luggage, showering, dressing, checking rooms and checking out of the hotel was completed and we hit our 9AM Parade of Champions check-in time to the minute. The weather was threatening and just starting to spit as the truck dropped off the low brass instruments and flags and then headed over to the Godwin practice fields to unload the pit. The horn section stayed in the convocation parking lot to warm up and try to stay dry, while the pit headed over to the field to unload the truck. Over at the field, the truck was being unloaded as the rain started, light at first and getting heavier. The equipment was unloaded by this time, so it was covered as best as possible, and then the 12x12 tents were put up and were a big help keeping the equipment and the crew dry.
Gate time approached and it was time to move the pit into position, and the rain started to ease up. After the pit was in position in the second tunnel and the horn section was in position in the first tunnel, the sun started to struggle to some out. As the previous band completed their show and began to move off the field, we moved the pit equipment out and the sun started to shine. The rain was over and it was Knight Time!
The kids did an awesome job taking command of the field and seemed to fill that huge stadium with their sound as though they were a band twice their size. The show went very smoothly and everyone who saw it remarked that it was the best performance and best show of the year! After the last song, the band retired from the field and we rolled the pit back to the truck and packed it all back in.
The band re-grouped in the stands of Bridgeforth Stadium and enjoyed watching the remainder of the A and AA group bands. The time for Awards came, but first the Marching Royal Dukes took the field to give all attending a show while the judges tabulated their scores. The MRD put on a fantastic show; the kids were excited to see several of their former band-mates performing on the field as part of the band. The show left everyone cheering, clapping and standing; it was awesome and a real treat to be able to see them perform in front of an audience that really understood what they were seeing. The kids that were out on that field were the very same kids that had been helping and hosting us all day. It was truly a wonderful experience to see that this type of organization exists and provides this kind of experience for its members. They are truly a wonderful group of exceptional kids; it was great fun to get to see them perform. As a group, we were impressed by each and every member of the MRD with whom we came in contact, they were helpful and kind and never too busy to talk or share their experiences.
The Kellam Marching Knights was awarded with 5th place in Group A (which numbered 18 bands). Everyone was thrilled to have placed in the competition and the kids were proud of their accomplishment. They knew they did a great job, and it was good to see the judges agreed!
We enjoyed our trip to JMU and hope to make it a regular part of our season in the future.
Here are some shots from the trip and the competition. Click here to see the album.
