North Lincoln — Band hosts first invitational

East and West Lincoln’s bands, who participated in the preview in August, competed Saturday at the 2004 Roundtable Tournament and Festival of Bands at North Lincoln High School. (Above) East Lincoln High School’s marching band performed and won Most Outstanding Pit Crew.

(Right) West Lincoln’s band took home Runner Up in their class. Diane Turbyfill / LTN Photos

The North Lincoln High School Band Boosters hosted their first band competition Saturday on the high school football field.
West Lincoln and East Lincoln joined 14 other North Carolina high school marching bands in the Roundtable Tournament and Festival of Bands.
“The stadium was packed,” said Ronda Friel, member of North Lincoln’s band boosters.
Friel said the first-time event was successful, and the boosters plan to host the event again next year.
The competition kicked off at 5 p.m. Saturday with the National Anthem. Five hours of performances concluded with a performance by the hosting band, “Band of Knights.”
The West Lincoln High School band was recognized during the awards ceremony for Runner Up in Class A.
East’s band took home the award for Most Outstanding Pit Crew as well as third all day out of 15 bands in classes A – AAA.
Trinity High School was named Grand Champion in Class A/AA, and CE Jordan high School won Grand Champion in Class AAA/AAAA.
The Spirit Award went to South Point High School.
Friel said members of the band boosters feel like winners after pulling off such a big event, coordinated by band director Neil Underwood.
“I heard nothing but compliments on the host band, how nice everybody was, how convenient it was,” she said. “Everybody was in such good spirits.”
Local bands will continue their season of competition.
West Lincoln’s band will compete this weekend in Mooresville.
East Lincoln will compete Saturday, Oct. 23 at Olympic High School in Charlotte.
North Lincoln High School is headed to the Tournament of Champions at Western Carolina University, and Lincolnton High School will go to the Shelby Golden Classic at Shelby High School.
by Diane Turbyfill