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Drum major Holly Thomas (center) keeps the Barnwell Scarlet Knights in rhythm during the 1A Lower State competition at Blythewood High on Oct. 22.
Members of the Barnwell High Scarlet Knights move their heads in motion during their clock-themed show titled "Time After Time". That's the same title as Cindy Lauper's hit song, which was one of the band's three musical selections.
Jason Edwards, the drum major for the Williston-Elko Blue Devil Marching Band, emerges as a vampire from a coffin at the end of the "Under the Moonlight" show.
A member of the Williston-Elko color guard, in character as a vampire, removes a red sash from a band member, signifying them being turned into a vampire. The show is titled "Under the Moonlight".
Two Barnwell County marching bands are headed to the state championship.
The Barnwell High School Scarlet Knights Marching Band and the Williston-Elko High School Blue Devil Marching Band competed at the 1A Lower State marching band competition held Saturday, Oct. 22 at Blythewood High. Williston-Elko and Barnwell both qualified for state after placing fourth and fifth, respectively.
“They've been working hard and getting better every single week since July 26 (when band camp began). It paid off for them this weekend when they went out and had their best run of the season. They earned their place in state finals and I am so proud of them!” said Barnwell’s band director, Dawn Vickery.
“I am really pleased with the effort, focus, and energy my students have brought to ‘Under the Moonlight’. They have taken our vision and ran with it!” said Jessica Pym, Williston-Elko’s band director.
Both bands will put in more hours of practice this week in anticipation of this weekend’s state finals.
“The thing I'm most looking forward to this week is watching them enjoy their final performance of the year knowing how much they have grown since we started this summer,” said Vickery.
“We are looking forward to performing at night at State. It’s always a different experience under the stadium lights and the darkness fits the mood of our show,” said Pym.
The 1A state finals will be held at Westwood High School (180 Turkey Farm Rd., Blythewood) this Saturday, October 29.
Barnwell performs their "Time After Time" clock-themed show at 6:45 p.m.
Williston-Elko performs their vampire-themed show titled "Under the Moonlight" at 7:15 p.m.
