East Tennessee State University will host one of the nation’s most prestigious high school marching band competitions Saturday when the Bands of America Ballad Health East Tennessee Regional Championship returns to Johnson City.  

The event, which begins at 9:15 a.m. on October 18, brings together elite high school bands from across multiple states for a full day of performances showcasing the highest level of marching arts.

“We are thrilled to host this event and meet the many talented students participating,” said Dr. Joe Moore, director of athletic bands and associate professor in the Department of Music at ETSU. “It is difficult to overstate what an honor this is, and especially what it means for the community and the Appalachian region.”

Regional and National Talent Converge

ETSU is one of only a few dozen locations across the United States selected to host these regional championships, reflecting both the quality of the university’s facilities and its commitment to supporting music education throughout the region.

The Ballad Health Athletic Center (Mini-Dome) at ETSU provides an ideal venue for the championship, offering excellent acoustics and sightlines that allow audiences to fully appreciate the precision, musicality, and visual artistry that define modern competitive marching band performance.

Bands Participating in Bands of America

Bands from numerous states, including Georgia, Kentucky, Oklahoma and South Carolina, will compete throughout the day, representing the caliber of musical excellence that defines the Bands of America championship series.

Additionally, several area high schools will showcase their talents on the championship stage:

  • Dobyns-Bennett High School  
  • Elizabethton High School
  • Lakeway Christian Academy
  • Science Hill High School

These local competitors will take the field alongside bands that have traveled significant distances to participate in this premier competition.

A Day of Excellence

Throughout the day, spectators will witness hours of meticulously choreographed performances featuring complex musical arrangements, synchronized marching and creative visual designs that push the boundaries of the marching arts.

Buy tickets online through the Bands of America website. For more of what the region has to offer, visit www.etsu.edu/our-region.  

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