CL
n NEWS & NOTEWORTHY n
Cobb marching bands
to forgo competitive season
BY RYAN KOLAKOWSKI
Due to the spread of coronavirus and the recent decision to
start the school year online only, the 16 high school marching
bands in Cobb County School District will not participate in
competitions this fall, district band directors announced in a
letter to families.
While bands will not compete this year, they still plan
to march during football games or through other activities
(permitting they take place), according to the letter from
directors.
“Undertaking a competitive marching season involves
significant amounts of time, planning, energy and fundraising,”
the Cobb band directors said in the letter to families. “We take
the investment of these resources very seriously but believe it
is in the best interest of our students, families, and schools to
provide a marching experience that we can be sure will allow
all students to safely participate.”
In the letter, directors said they “have been working hard
to develop plans that will allow our students the best possible
experience.”
In a statement posted to the Walton High School Band
Facebook page, Walton Band Director John Palmer said
organizing a competitive show would not be feasible this year.
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“While we are all disappointed in the loss of a competitive
season, in the current climate, we do not feel we could safely
put the time or financial resources into fielding a competitive
show,” Palmer said. “With Bands of America canceling all of
their competitions yesterday, we are also not guaranteed for
there to be competitions in which groups can participate.”
MA-89567 (100%)
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PUBLICATION: MA-COBB LIFE MAGAZINE
In a news release on Tuesday, Music for All announced the
cancellation of all 2020 Bands of America Championships,
competitive marching events that many Cobb marching bands
participate in each year.
All marching bands in the district postponed summer
rehearsals, according to the letter, meaning the weeks of
band camp that students normally participate in before the
academic year did not take place as scheduled.
Directors went on to say that the district’s fine arts
departments will listen to recommendations from local public
health officials to develop plans for music and arts this year .
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