Competitions

Portions published by the Rock Hill Herald on November 18, 2009 by Shawn Cetrone

Nation Ford High School's band returned from a national competition in Indianapolis with a seventh-place finish in its division. Ninety bands from across the country competed in the Bands of America/Music for All Grand National Championships last week at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

Nation Ford High in Fort Mill finished seventh in Class AA, for schools with between 601 and 1,300 students in grades 10 through 12.

“They did their best performance of the year by far,” Nation Ford High band director Martin Dickey said. “Everything came together. The kids were excited. They just turned it on.”

The group did not make the cut of 30 semifinalists competing for the overall championship. Nation Ford band members watched the final performances closely and Dickey had them take notes. “That was the main reason we went,” Dickey said. “We wanted them to see what it's like to compete at that level.”

The group's 13-hour road trip to Indianapolis caps a stellar year for the two-year-old band. Nation Ford was crowned state champion this year in Class AAA. The band will perform in the Fort Mill Christmas Parade on Dec 6.

Results as published by Music for All -