RHS Marching Hundred hosts Northwest Alabama Classic

The RHS Marching Hundred will host the annual Northwest Alabama Marching Classic band competition Sept. 24 at the Russellville High School stadium.

“It’s an opportunity for the students to see groups they might not normally get to watch perform,” explained RHS Marching Hundred Band Director Jeremy Willis – who added that hosting a competition, compared going to one, is “very different.”

“There’s so much to do, so many details that need to be covered,” he said. “My students will be volunteering, helping provide water at the warmup stations and helping with the concession stand.”

He said it’s beneficial seeing other bands in the various stages, including warm-up, staging, at the gate, in performance and going back to the buses.

“We have a pretty big band following in Russellville,” said Willis. He said many former band members or other interested members of the community will enjoy watching the performances.

As the host school, the RHS band will not be competing; however, the Marching Hundred will perform in exhibition as the last band of the night, tentatively scheduled for around 8 p.m., give or take 20 minutes. “We’ll perform our entire show for the exhibition,” Willis said.

Willis said the band’s theme for this year is “Seasons.” He said the band tries to portray the change of seasons throughout the course of the show, with the opener about schools being out for the summer. “Then, we’ll have a class bell ring. Things like that. And so, summer goes into fall,” said Willis.

In the fall portion, there will be a solo dancer who is a leaf falling off a tree.

“At the end of winter, we’ll have a bird singing to announce spring,” he added. “Our opening set pays homage to our new school building.”

Willis said this year’s Marching Hundred is working “extremely hard but also extremely smart.” He said upcoming competitions include Muscle Shoals Oct. 15 and the state championship Oct. 22 at Spain Park High School.

“I’m thankful we have an administration and quality facilities that allow us to put something like this together every year,” added Willis.

The gates will open either at 11:30 a.m. or noon, depending on how many bands register.  Admission is $10. There is no charge for parking.

Franklin County

PROGRESS 2024: VFW Post 5184 – ‘No One Does More For Veterans’

Features

Supporting students’ futures

Features

Red Bay Garden Club discusses amaryllis planting

Franklin County

UA announces local students for fall 2023 President’s, Dean’s, graduation lists

News

School news

Franklin County

PROGRESS 2024: Veteran Spotlight – Troy Oliver

Franklin County

Appropriations bill passes, allots more than $3 million for new Russellville library/multipurpose center 

Franklin County

Franklin County Cattlemen’s Association names Cattleman of the Year 

Franklin County

Franklin County votes: Unofficial March 5 primary election results 

Franklin County

Funding for new Russellville library, multipurpose community center expected this week

Features

Faces of Franklin County: BTCPA

News

GFWC Russellville Book Lovers Club sponsors downtown art crawl

Franklin County

PROGRESS 2024: Veteran Spotlight – Cody Bragwell

Franklin County

42nd annual Miss RHS pageant names winners 

News

Miss RHS pageant takes place Friday

Franklin County

Political announcement: David Hester speaks about run for reelection as county commissioner

Franklin County

BTCPA auditions for final production of season take place March 3-4 

Franklin County

RCS holds annual Black History Month program 

Franklin County

PROGRESS 2024: American Legion Posts 64 and 120 – ‘Veterans Strengthening America’

Franklin County

RHS graduate crowned Miss Northwest Shoals

Franklin County

RHS graduate crowned Miss UNA

Franklin County

PROGRESS 2024: In memoriam – Monuments honor the fallen of Franklin

High School Sports

RHS senior chosen as Bryant-Jordan Region 8 Scholar winner

High School Sports

Russellville High School ladies soccer team members participate in annual Night to Shine

x