AU band members: display their instruments and smiles as they enjoy their time at Band-o-Rama. Gonny Dailey / PHOTO STAFF
Drums, family, friends and fun are found at more than just a football game.
This proved to be true at the ninth annual Band-o-Rama.
Band-o-Rama is an event where fans gather to enjoy the sounds of several local high school marching bands, as well as Auburn’s marching band.
It’s not the competitive environment typically seen in Hollywood movies such as “Drumline.”
It is an event that centers solely around marching bands and gives them the time to perform for each other before this year’s football season kicks off.
“What we love about this particular venue is that it honors every band, no matter how different you are when you approach your show design or how many players you have; we’re out here celebrating music, because the kids learn so much through this particular venue,” said Jason Smith, director of the Opelika High School marching band, “Spirit of the South.”
This is Smith’s first year teaching at Opelika High School and his first time attending a Band-o-Rama event.
As rain began to fall, hundreds of spectators eagerly awaited the chance to cheer on their favorite bands at the Duck Samford Stadium last Friday evening.
The night began with selections from Lanett High school followed by performances from Opelika, Valley, Smiths Station, Eufala, Auburn and Beulah.
Most of the bands have been participating in Band-o-Rama since it began giving some students the opportunity to participate throughout high school.
Participation in a consecutive event puts on the pressure to bring more force at each performance.
“We came out with more energy than we have in the past; everyone was really excited, and we’ve been practicing hard, so it really paid off,” said senior Chris Helms, band captain for Smiths Station.
Helms has been participating in Band-o-Rama for three years now.
Students put in countless hours preparing formations, movement routines and classic music for all their friends, family and spectators to enjoy.
“I don’t think people that aren’t band people realize just how much time band kids put into what we do,” said Rusty Courson, director of bands for Smiths Station.
These bands work year round on performances pieces.
“We rehearsed Monday nights all summer; we did a 12-day band camp before school started, and of course, we have a regular class that meets during the day,” Courson said. “We meet after school, and kids have to do a lot of individual practice, as well, and we have section rehearsals.”
For some students, even with the extra practices, they were still nervous when it came to performance time.
“Of course I was nervous, I was in a very high position today, of course I was scared, but as the weeks progressed, I felt a little more comfortable,” said senior Nicholas Kelly, drum major for Smiths Station High School.
This is Kelly’s first year being the drum major and one of his best performances during his high school career.
“By far, this is one of our greatest shows; I was very proud of the band, great energy all the way around,” Kelly said.
The song selections featured rock ‘n’ roll, traditional, hymns and other secular music.
The crowd heard the familiar songs from popular artists such as Queen and Elvis. The fans in the stands could not help, but tap their toes.
Obviously, many cultures were represented as well, making this an informative and exciting night. A couple of the bands chose to perform classic pieces ringing with tradition, which their home-crowd fans have come to expect.
Opelika, for instance, traditionally ends its performances by playing a traditional hymn for the crowd, The new director Smith felt no need to switch things up now.
“Opelika has a very traditional type of program, one that they’re dedicated to adhering to and my sole goal this year was to honor that tradition,” Smith said.
Although Band-o-Rama is a free annual event, not everyone attends or even knows about the celebration.
One parent had a message for those who did not attend the event.
“If you’re not here, you don’t know what you’re missing,” said Vanessa Odom, the parent of a seventh grade member of the Lanett band. “I am not only proud of my son, but of all the kids who’ve been out on that field. They represented their schools well, and they made me proud.”
With budget cuts, petitions to end school music programs and other extracurricular activities, this event was truly an event to make someone want to save the music programs in schools.
“You can’t say enough about music ensembles and music in the schools; it’s important,” Smith said. “You’ve got to have it, and that’s what this day is about, it’s not a competition, it’s a celebration of all bands,” Smith said.
