For the first time in four years, a band other than Winchester Community High School has won the Musical Travel Consultants Indiana State Fair Band Day competition. The Spirit of Muncie Band and Guard, newly formed after the consolidation of the Muncie Central and Muncie Southside High Schools, can call itself State Fair champions.
The bands from the two schools got a head start on the transition this past April and began competing together this summer, before the schools officially combine this fall. Performing their show entitled “The Anatomy of Composition: Poetry, Art & Music,” the Spirit of Muncie won the top prize, something that Muncie Southside had not been able to do since 2008 and Muncie Central hadn’t done since 1953. The band is directed by Jeramiah Bowman and H. Clay Arnett.
“Winning feels amazing,” said drum major Raegan Gordon. “I just knew that we were going to win.”
Winchester slipped just one notch this year to second place while Richmond High School followed close behind in third. Here is tonight’s “Sweet 16” final placing:
1. Muncie Central High School
2. Winchester Community High School
3. Richmond High School
4. Anderson High School
5. Centerville High School
6. Jay County High School
7. Noblesville High School
8. Northeastern Jr./Sr. High School
9. Kokomo High School
10. Hagerstown Jr./Sr. High School
11. Monroe Central Jr./Sr. High School
12. Mooresville High School
13. Southmont High School
14. Frankton Jr./Sr. High School
15. Yorktown High School
16. West Lafayette High School
SOURCE: Indiana State Fair