All schools in Upshur County will close at 1 p.m. today. All B-UHS sporting events today are canceled.

Buckhannon-Upshur High School finishes fifth in state drumline competition

Thirty-six bands from around the state showcased their talents in the 13th annual West Virginia State Marching Band Invitational Championship at the University of Charleston Stadium, Laidley Field in Charleston. Buckhannon-Upshur High School finished fifth in the drumline competition.

Cabell Midland High School won the Overall “Honor Band” Award and the Old Gold Division Grand Champion title, while Hurricane High School secured the Blue Division Grand Champion award. Bands were judged on general effect, marching and maneuvering, music, music effect, percussion, drum major, color guard, majorettes, and feature twirler.

Cabell Midland also claimed the 2024 Governor’s Cup Marching Band Series Championship trophy with a first-place finish in the overall standings. The Governor’s Cup consisted of ten local competitions and the Marching Band Invitational finals, with points awarded at each event.

This year’s event included a drumline competition, with Morgantown High School taking first prize.

The West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture and History (WVDACH) inducted two individuals into the State Marching Band Directors Hall of Fame: David Burton, former band director at Parkersburg High School, and W. Mel Saunders, who led the Bluefield High School band for 27 years.

The West Virginia State Marching Band Invitational Championship, sponsored by the WVDACH in collaboration with the Save The Music Foundation, Conn-Selmer Division of Education, the West Virginia Department of Education, and the Higher Education Policy Commission, serves to promote and celebrate arts education in West Virginia.

The winners of the State Marching Band Invitational Championship are as follows:

Governor’s Cup Marching Band Series

  • Champion: Cabell Midland High School
  • 1st Runner-Up: PikeView High School
  • 2nd Runner-Up: Greenbrier East High School
  • 3rd Runner-Up: Woodrow Wilson High School
  • 4th Runner-Up: Philip Barbour High School/ Princeton High School

Overall Awards (Honor Band)

  • West Virginia State Honor Band: Cabell Midland High School
  • 1st Runner-up: Musselman High School
  • 2nd Runner-up: Jefferson High School
  • 3rd Runner-up: Philip Barbour High School
  • 4th Runner-up: Greenbrier East High School

Division Awards

  • Old Gold Division Grand Champion: Cabell Midland High School
  • Old Gold Division 1st Runner-Up: Musselman High School
  • Old Gold Division 2nd Runner-Up: Jefferson High School
  • Old Gold Division Best Music: Cabell Midland High School
  • Old Gold Division Best Marching: Cabell Midland High School
  • Old Gold Division Best General Effect: Musselman High School
  • Blue Division Grand Champion: Hurricane High School
  • Blue Division 1st Runner-Up: PikeView High School
  • Blue Division 2nd Runner-Up: Paden City High School
  • Blue Division Best Music: Liberty (Harrison) High School
  • Blue Division Best Marching: Hurricane High School
  • Blue Division Best General Effect: Hurricane High School

Class A Band Awards

  • 1st Place: Cabell Midland High School
  • 2nd Place: Musselman High School
  • 3rd Place: Jefferson High School

Class A Best Overall Awards

Percussion:

  • 1st Place: Cabell Midland High School
  • 2nd Place: Musselman High School
  • 3rd Place: Jefferson High School

Color Guard:

  • 1st Place: Cabell Midland High School
  • 2nd Place: Jefferson High School
  • 3rd Place: Musselman High School

Drum Major:

  • 1st Place: Musselman High School
  • 2nd Place: Cabell Midland High School
  • 3rd Place: Jefferson High School

Soloist:

  • Musselman High School – accordion

Class B Band Awards

  • 1st Place: Greenbrier East High School
  • 2nd Place: Princeton High School
  • 3rd Place: Woodrow Wilson High School

Class B Best Overall Awards

Percussion:

  • 1st Place: Princeton High School
  • 2nd Place: Woodrow Wilson High School
  • 3rd Place: Tyler Consolidated High School

Color Guard:

  • 1st Place: Greenbrier East High School
  • 2nd Place: Princeton High School
  • 3rd Place: Woodrow Wilson High School

Drum Major:

  • 1st Place: Woodrow Wilson High School
  • 2nd Place: Princeton High School
  • 3rd Place: Robert C. Byrd High School

Soloist:

  • Woodrow Wilson High School – baritone

Class C1 Band Awards

  • 1st Place: PikeView High School
  • 2nd Place: Shady Spring High School
  • 3rd Place: Liberty (Harrison) High School

Class C1 Overall Awards

Percussion:

  • 1st Place: Liberty (Harrison) High School
  • 2nd Place: PikeView High School
  • 3rd Place: Bluefield High School

Color Guard:

  • 1st Place: Shady Spring High School
  • 2nd Place: PikeView High School
  • 3rd Place: Liberty (Harrison) High School

Drum Major:

  • 1st Place: Parkersburg High School
  • 2nd Place: Braxton County High School
  • 3rd Place: Bluefield High School

Soloist:

  • PikeView High School – flute

Class C2 Band Awards

  • 1st Place: Hurricane High School
  • 2nd Place: Paden City High School
  • 3rd Place: Wayne High School

Class C2 Best Overall Awards

Percussion:

  • 1st Place: Paden City High School
  • 2nd Place: Hurricane High School
  • 3rd Place: Wayne High School

Color Guard:

  • 1st Place: Hurricane High School
  • 2nd Place: James Monroe High School
  • 3rd Place: Wayne High School

Drum Major:

  • 1st Place: Hurricane High School
  • 2nd Place: North Marion High School
  • 3rd Place: Paden City High School

Soloist:

  • Paden City High School – trumpet

Class D1 Band Awards

  • 1st Place: Capital High School
  • 2nd Place: Ravenswood High School
  • 3rd Place: St. Marys High School

Class D1 Best Overall Awards

Percussion:

  • 1st Place: Capital High School
  • 2nd Place: Ravenswood High School
  • 3rd Place: St. Marys High School

Color Guard:

  • 1st Place: Ravenswood High School
  • 2nd Place: St. Marys High School
  • 3rd Place: Wirt County High School

Drum Major:

  • 1st Place: St. Marys High School
  • 2nd Place: Ravenswood High School
  • 3rd Place: Capital High School

Soloist:

  • Summers County High School – alto sax

Class D2 Band Awards

  • 1st Place: Calhoun County High School
  • 2nd Place: Webster County High School
  • 3rd Place: Wyoming East High School

Class D2 Best Overall Awards

Percussion:

  • 1st Place: Calhoun County High School
  • 2nd Place: Liberty (Raleigh) High School
  • 3rd Place: Wyoming East High School

Color Guard:

  • 1st Place: Calhoun County High School
  • 2nd Place: Webster County High School
  • 3rd Place: Wyoming East High School

Drum Major:

  • 1st Place: Wyoming East High School
  • 2nd Place: Liberty (Raleigh) High School
  • 3rd Place: Webster County High School

Soloist:

  • Webster County High School – flute

Drum Competition

  • Champion: Morgantown High School
  • 1st Runner-Up: Paden City High School
  • 2nd Runner-Up: Princeton High School
  • 3rd Runner-Up: Jefferson High School
  • 4th Runner-Up: Parkersburg High School
  • 5th Runner-Up: Buckhannon-Upshur High School
  • 6th Runner-Up: Westside High School
  • 7th Runner-Up: Webster County High School
  • 8th Runner-Up: Liberty (Raleigh) High School

Miss Majorette

  • Miss Majorette: Katelyn Wooten, Woodrow Wilson High School
  • Miss Majorette Runner-Up: Micah Smith, Webster County High School

Natalea Mumaw Memorial Best Overall Twirler

  • Woodrow Wilson High School

Best Overall Majorettes

  • Philip Barbour High School

Best Dressed Director

  • Leslie Riedel, Capital High School

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