Marching Cougars see hard work pay off at state band competition
By Jon Jukes


Posted on November 13, 2017 4:58 PM



The Logan County High School Marching Cougars Band competed in the 31st Annual Kentucky Music Educators Association (KMEA) Class 4A Semi-Finals at South Oldham High School on 28 October. To qualify for the event, the band needed to finish in the top eight at their Regional Quarter-Finals, which were held the prior weekend in Hopkinsville. The 4A Semi-Finals event featured 16 bands from across the state, competing for a top four finish which would then qualify them for the State Finals event later that evening. While they did not qualify for the final round, the LCHS Band did finish the semi-final round in tenth-place, which was an improvement of five places over the previous year’s event finish and the bands’ highest placement since 2007.

The Marching Cougars are 86 members strong, consisting of 64 instrumentalist and 22 color guard members - each working together to make music and create something larger than themselves.  This year’s show was titled “Bohemian Rhapsody in Blue Shades” and featured songs from the rock band Queen, and American composers George Gershwin and Frank Ticheli. Preparations for marching competition are year-round, with an increased emphasis beginning in the late summer. On commenting about the practice time required, senior trumpeter Ross Coursey stated, “It’s a lot of work and you can get some crazy tan lines, but in the end it’s always worth it.” The band performs at football games and competes in several contests throughout the fall months to qualify for and better prepare for the state competition rounds. The back-to-back semi-final results provide vindication for the months of preparation.

With marching season finished for the year, band students turn their attention to All-District and All-State auditions, as well as pep band events. The LCHS Music Department is also preparing for a return to SKYPAC in Bowling Green for their annual Christmas/ Holiday concert. This year’s festivities will be held 05 December beginning at 7:00 p.m. All families and friends are encouraged to come and join in the celebration at this professional state-of-the-art venue. Admission is free and open to the public.

The LCHS Music Department is under the direction of Mr. David Dayton.

 


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