slideshow

The Blue Brigade marching band is stepping in tune for their annual Lorraine Paris Invitational on Saturday.

Newberry High’s marching band has hosted this event for high school bands to perform and show what they are made of.

Steve Wilson of the Blue Brigade Band Parent Association says that this invitational is in honor of the late Lorraine Paris, a former Newberry High band director. Money also goes towards a college scholarship as well as operational costs for the band.

Thus far, Wilson says they have 10 bands to perform with one from North Carolina.

The event starts at 3 p.m. at Mike Ware Field at Newberry High School and will continue until about 9 p.m.

The show starts with a few of the bands playing to be reviewed only and not judged and then there will be a break.

After the break is when the competition starts; however, Wilson does say that music will constantly be flowing with breaks about every 15 minutes.

The bands perform and Wilson says that some have props and go all out while some keep it simple.

The judges will grade after every band has performed and give out awards at the awards ceremony at the very end. Awards include titles for best color guard, drum major, etc.

There is quite a variety of high schools from 1A to 4A marching bands, according to Wilson.

There are plenty of styles and even visual representations, he points out.

Since Newberry High is hosting the event, they will not be judged; however, they will perform.

The band parent association sponsors this and this competition is in Paris’s honor.

Also, costs associated with band and traveling and maintenance of non-school owned instruments and outfits is expensive. Wilson says that their costs for Newberry High can reach above $50,000. That doesn’t include Mid-Carolina or Whitmire’s expenses.

The parking is free but there is a cost of $6 for adults, $4 for students and children five and under are admitted for free.

If people are interested in helping out the Blue Brigade they may contact the band director Akeem Downs at 321-2621 and the band parent association meets the third Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. in the band room.