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At the recent Conquest of Champions hosted by Allatoona High School, the Kell Longhorn Marching Band walked away with a whole host of awards, including Conquest Grand Champion, first in AAAAA Division, overall Gold Division winner, Best General Effect, and Best Music Performance!
Their current show, “Pop,” explores all things pop—music, pop art, things that go “pop,” even pops of color. The production features instantly recognizable classical music from well-known movies and musicals and iconic music by pop legends Michael Jackson, Madonna, Beyonce, and more!
“The beauty of marching band is that it is very subjective,” said Kell Band Director David Roth. “We can only control what we do, not what other bands do or what a judge focuses on. Our barometer for a successful performance at any competition is how good we feel when we walk off the field.”
After their performance at Conquest, every Longhorn band member knew exactly how they had done.
“The students walked off the field literally in tears because they knew they just had their best performance of the season to date. The energy was unmistakable, and the emotion was palpable,” Director Roth said.
The 2024 Kell Marching Band is the largest in school history, with 170 members. The students have been working on this show since band camp in July. All that practice paid off with a superb performance on Buccaneer Field to claim the title of Conquest Grand Champions!
“We are very passionate about using competition as a means to better OURSELVES, not just to win awards,” Director Roth continued. “We constantly remind the students that they will remember the feeling of performing with their best friends in an activity they love far more than any amount of trophies they win.”
That said, Director Roth was still thrilled with the judge’s confirmation of an exceptional performance.
“We are so incredibly happy for them,” he concluded proudly about his Conquest Grand Champions. “Not only for the placements but for their performance and the memories they will carry with them forever.”
