CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Thirty-three bands from around the state showcased their talents in the 12th annual West Virginia State Marching Band Invitational Championship at Philip Barbour High School in Philippi on Saturday, Oct. 21. West Virginia Wesleyan College performed as an exhibition band during the competition. A complete list of winners is included.
Cabell Midland High School won the Overall “Honor Band” Award and Old Gold Division Grand Champion, and Hurricane High School won 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 took home the 2023 Governor’s Cup Marching Band Series Championship trophy with a first-place finish in the overall standings. The Governor’s Cup consisted of nine local competitions, along with the Marching Band Invitational finals. Points were awarded at each competition and then the winner was determined by the band who received the most points throughout the series.
This year’s event also included a drumline competition, with Elkins High School winning first prize.
Participating bands were Berkeley Springs High School, Berkeley Springs, Morgan County; Braxton County High School, Sutton, Braxton County; Buckhannon-Upshur High School, Buckhannon, Upshur County; Cabell Midland High School, Ona, Cabell County; Calhoun County Middle/High School, Mt. Zion, Calhoun County; Doddridge County High School, West Union, Doddridge County; Elkins High School, Elkins, Randolph County; Elkins High School, Elkins; Randolph County; Greenbrier East High School, Lewisburg, Greenbrier County; Greenbrier West High School, Charmco, Greenbrier County; Hurricane High School, Hurricane, Putnam County; James Monroe County High School, Lindside, Monroe County; Liberty High School, Clarksburg, Harrison County; Liberty High School, Glen Daniel, Raleigh County; North Marion High School, Farmington, Marion County; Paden City High School, Paden City, Wetzel County; Parkersburg High School, Parkersburg, Wood County; Petersburg High School, Petersburg, Grant County, Philip Barbour High School, Philippi, Barbour County; Poca High School, Poca, Putnam County; Preston High School, Kingwood, Preston County; Princeton High School, Princeton, Mercer County; Ravenswood High School, Ravenswood, Jackson County; Richwood High School, Richwood, Nicholas County; Robert C. Byrd High School, Clarksburg, Harrison County; Ritchie County High School, Ellenboro, Ritchie County; St. Marys High School, St. Marys, Pleasants County; Shady Spring High School, Shady Spring, Raleigh County; Tyler Consolidated High School, Sistersville, Tyler County; Webster County High School, Upperglade, Webster County; Westside High School, Clear Fork, Wyoming County; Williamstown High School, Williamstown, Wood County; Wirt County High School, Elizabeth, Wirt County; and Woodrow Wilson High School, Beckley, Raleigh County.
The West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture and History (WVDACH) also inducted two individuals into the State Marching Band Directors Hall of Fame. Honorees include Dr. Scott Woodard, currently the director of instrumental music, interim associate provost and associate vice president for academic affairs at West Virginia State University, and the associate conductor of the West Virginia Symphony Orchestra and music director of the Charleston Chamber Orchestra; and Deborah Westbrook, a teacher for Preston County Schools for 40 years and the head band director at Preston High School beginning in 1995, where she held that position until her retirement in June 2023. The inductees were selected from a list of nominations submitted to the WVDACH.
The West Virginia State Marching Band Invitational Championship was sponsored by the WVDACH in participation with the Save The Music Foundation, Conn-Selmer Division of Education, the West Virginia Department of Education and the Higher Education Policy Commission. The State Marching Band Championship helps to promote, encourage and celebrate arts education throughout West Virginia.
For more information about the State Marching Band Championship, contact Andrea Nelson, public information specialist for the department, at 304-558-0220 or Andrea.E.Nelson@wv.gov.
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: Hurricane High School
2nd Runner-Up: Princeton High School
3rd Runner-Up: Woodrow Wilson High School
4th Runner-Up: Philip Barbour High School
Overall Awards (Honor Band)
West Virginia State Honor Band: Cabell Midland High School
1st Runner-up: Hurricane High School
2nd Runner-up: Woodrow Wilson High School
3rd Runner-up: Tyler Consolidated High School
4th Runner-up: Princeton High School
Division Awards
Old Gold Division Grand Champion: Cabell Midland High School
Old Gold Division 1st Runner-Up: Woodrow Wilson High School
Old Gold Division 2nd Runner-Up: Philip Barbour 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: Cabell Midland High School
Blue Division Grand Champion: Hurricane High School
Blue Division 1st Runner-Up: Tyler Consolidated High School
Blue Division 2nd Runner-Up: Princeton High School
Blue Division Best Music: Princeton High School
Blue Division Best Marching: Tyler Consolidated High School
Blue Division Best General Effect: Hurricane High School
Class A Band Awards
1st Place: Cabell Midland High School
2nd Place: Philip Barbour High School
3rd Place: Richwood High School
Class A Best Overall Awards
Percussion:
1st Place: Cabell Midland High School
2nd Place: Philip Barbour High School
3rd Place: Elkins High School
Color Guard:
1st Place: Cabell Midland High School
2nd Place: Philip Barbour High School
3rd Place: Elkins High School
Drum Major:
1st Place: Cabell Midland High School
2nd Place: Philip Barbour High School
3rd Place: Richwood High School
Soloist: Cabell Midland High School – flute
Class B Band Awards
1st Place: Woodrow Wilson High School
2nd Place: Greenbrier East High School
3rd Place: Robert C. Byrd High School
Class B Best Overall Awards
Percussion:
1st Place: Woodrow Wilson High School
2nd Place: Robert C. Byrd High School
3rd Place: Preston High School
Color Guard:
1st Place: Greenbrier East High School
2nd Place: Woodrow Wilson High School
3rd Place: Robert C. Byrd High School
Drum Major:
1st Place: Woodrow Wilson High School
2nd Place: Greenbrier East High School
3rd Place: Preston High School
Soloist: Woodrow Wilson High School – flute
Class C1 Band Awards
1st Place: Tyler Consolidated High School
2nd Place: Princeton High School
3rd Place: Parkersburg High School
Class C1 Overall Awards
Percussion:
1st Place: Tyler Consolidated High School
2nd Place: Princeton High School
3rd Place: Parkersburg High School
Color Guard:
1st Place: Liberty High School (Harrison)
2nd Place: Tyler Consolidated High School
3rd Place: Princeton High School
Drum Major:
1st Place: Braxton County High School
2nd Place: Princeton High School
3rd Place: Tyler Consolidated High School
Soloist: Princeton High School – trumpet
Class C2 Band Awards
1st Place: Shady Spring High School
2nd Place: Paden City High School
3rd Place: Poca High School
Class C2 Best Overall Awards
Percussion:
1st Place: Paden City High School
2nd Place: Shady Spring High School
3rd Place: Poca High School
Color Guard:
1st Place: James Monroe High School
2nd Place: Paden City High School
3rd Place: Shady Spring High School
Drum Major:
1st Place: Paden City High School
2nd Place: Poca High School
3rd Place: Shady Spring High School
Soloist: Shady Spring High School – trumpet
Class D1 Band Awards
1st Place: Hurricane High School
2nd Place: North Marion High School
3rd Place: Greenbrier West High School
Class D1 Best Overall Awards
Percussion:
1st Place: Greenbrier West High School
2nd Place: Ravenswood High School
3rd Place: North Marion High School
Color Guard:
1st Place: Hurricane High School
2nd Place: Ravenswood High School
3rd Place: North Marion High School
Drum Major:
1st Place: Hurricane High School
2nd Place: North Marion High School
3rd Place: Petersburg High School
Soloist: North Marion High School – tuba
Class D2 Band Awards
1st Place: St. Marys High School
2nd Place: Calhoun County High School
3rd Place: Ritchie County High School
Class D2 Best Overall Awards
Percussion:
1st Place: St. Marys High School
2nd Place: Calhoun County High School
3rd Place: Berkeley Springs High School
Color Guard:
1st Place: Calhoun County High School
2nd Place: St. Marys High School
3rd Place: Webster County High School
Drum Major:
1st Place: St. Marys High School
2nd Place: Calhoun County High School
3rd Place: Webster County High School
Soloist: St. Marys High School – trumpet
Best Overall Show Band Awards
1st Place: Richwood High School
2nd Place: Poca High School
3rd Place: Buckhannon-Upshur High School
Drums Competition
Champion: Elkins High School
1st Runner-Up: Parkersburg High School
2nd Runner-Up: Paden City High School
3rd Runner-Up: Princeton High School
4th Runner-Up: Greenbrier East High School
5th Runner-Up: Poca High School
6th Runner-Up: Braxton County High School
7th Runner-Up: James Monroe High School
8th Runner-Up: Webster County High School
9th Runner-Up: North Marion High School
10th Runner-Up: Westside High School
Miss Majorette
Miss Majorette: Braelyn Criner, Braxton County High School
Miss Majorette Runner-Up: Mauren Miller, Philip Barbour High School
Natalea Mumaw Memorial Best Overall Twirler
Webster County High School
Best Overall Majorettes
Philip Barbour High School
Best Overall Dance Team
James Monroe High School
Best Dressed Director
Victor Iapalucci, Philip Barbour High School
