CHARLESTON W.Va. (WVDN) – Thirty-six bands from around the state showcased their talents in the 13th annual West Virginia State Marching Band Invitational Championship University of Charleston Stadium, Laidley Field in Charleston, Saturday, Oct. 26. 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 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, 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 Morgantown High School winning first prize.
Participating bands were Bluefield High School, Bluefield, Mercer 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; Capital High School, Charleston, Kanawha 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 High School, Lindside, Monroe County; Jefferson High School, Shenandoah Junction, Jefferson County; Liberty High School, Clarksburg, Harrison County; Liberty High School, Glen Daniel, Raleigh County; Morgantown High School, Morgantown, Monongalia County; Musselman High School, Inwood, Berkeley County; Nitro High School, Nitro, Kanawha County; North Marion High School, Farmington, Marion County; Paden City High School, Paden City, Wetzel County; Parkersburg High School, Parkersburg, Wood County; Philip Barbour High School, Philippi, Barbour County; PikeView High School, Princeton, Mercer County; Princeton Senior 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; St. Marys High School, St. Marys, Pleasants County; Shady Spring High School, Shady Spring, Raleigh County; Summers County Comprehensive High School, Hinton, Summers County; Tyler Consolidated High School, Sistersville, Tyler County; Wayne High School, Wayne, Wayne County; Webster County High School, Upperglade, Webster County; Westside High School, Clear Fork, Wyoming County; Wirt County High School, Elizabeth, Wirt County; Woodrow Wilson High School, Beckley, Raleigh County; and Wyoming East High School, New Richmond, Wyoming 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 David Burton, who served as the band director at Parkersburg High School from 1987 – 1996 and is now retired and lives with his wife Vivian in Williamstown, and W. Mel Saunders, who was the band director at Bluefield High School for 27 years and is retired and still resides in Bluefield with his wife Holly.
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: 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
