The Russellville Band Boosters hosted their annual show of bands on Saturday evening, Sept. 18, at Rhea Stadium. Over 1,100 musicians and 200 directors, staff and chaperones filed the streets and parking lot in preparation for the largest band show since the 1990s.
The evening began with Philip Clemons Jr., senior trumpet player, singing the National Anthem. After the opening ceremony, the RHS Band Boosters had an alumni recognition program honoring Marching Panthers from the 1940s through the current Marching Panthers. Some of those honoring the decades were Lon Sosh, James Milam, Larry Baker, Howard Posey, Donna Smotherman Heidel, Sherry Abbott Bouldin, Mary Jureka Celsor, Susan Apple Fox, Brian Brown, Philip Crawford and Kelsey Harris. Also honored was David Corbin, former band director in the Russellville Independent School System.
The RHS “Music Under the Stars” was dedicated to Mrs. Hazel Carver, who Carver was the band director for the Russellville Independent School System for over 30 years.
The band competition started at 5:45 p.m. with Class A division performing. The evening was filled with 14 bands in competition from Kentucky and Tennessee. At 9:30 p.m. the Russellville Marching Panthers took the field in exhibition. In a rare circumstance of events the transformer supplying Rhea Stadium failed and half of the stadium lights quit during the performances. The Marching Panthers took their field in their new black and gold uniforms. The backdrops painted by Brenda Brown’s art class staged the RHS Marching Panthers 2010 show entitled “A Day in the City”.
Rhea Stadium bleachers and hillside were filled with spectators and musicians for the performance of the 215+ member Murray State University Band. Under the direction of John Fannin, Racer Band performed their show with a tribute to Journey. At the end of their performance the Racer Band entered the stands, performing their last song. RHS band director Brian Brown, a graduate of MSU and Racer Band, commented, “You don’t only hear Racer Band, you FEEL Racer Band”.
At the conclusion of the RHS Marching Panther performance, the seniors presented flowers to the parents for all the hard work and support they have contributed over the years. This year’s seniors are Dylan Anderson, Elyse Brock, Philip Clemons Jr., Terri Cohen, John Corum, Sarah Fox, Lyndsey Knuckles, Matthew Oakley, Shannon Pate, Mallory Priddy, Naomi Sells and Mclean Shutt.
Awards immediately followed with the Grand Champion trophy presented by Leon Smith, superintendent of Russellville Independent Schools, to Allen Co.-Scottsville.
Vanessa Priddy, who handles Public Relations for the RHS Band Boosters and RHS alumni, concluded, “This will be an evening that will be remembered for a long time by those who attended. If one musician was encouraged to continue their education by witnessing Racer Band’s performance, then all of our hard work was worth it all.”