Melodious stylings of high school marching bands filled UTM’s Hardy Graham Stadium Saturday as local schools competed against one another. First, second and third places were awarded in the categories of A, AA, AAA and AAAA, according to the size of the band.

“As you can see, the competition is stiff,” said Martha Czecholinski, a parent of a Dyersburg high school student who competed. “A lot of preparation goes into it.”

“We had a very good turnout,” said Dr. Brian Amaral, UTM Skyhawk marching band director. “Fifteen high school bands participated in our competition. We also had a number of other bands come in as spectators.” Area bands arrived for competition from West and Middle Tennessee.

Awards were given in the categories of participation awards, field commanders, color guard, best percussion, best in class and the grand champion in both large and small band categories.

First-place winners included North East High School for best field commanders, small division; Union City High School for best field commanders, large division; Huntingdon High School, best color guard, small division; Union City High School, best color guard, large division; McNairy Central High School, best percussion, small division, Union City High School, best percussion, large division; Halls High School, best in class, class A division; McNairy Central High School, best in class, class AA division; Trenton Peabody High School, best in class, AAA division; and Union City High School, best in class, class AAAA division. See sidebar for detailed results.

Routines varied in scope and theme. North East High School dazzled the audience with a routine based on music from Pirates of the Caribbean. The theme of Huntingdon High School’s routine was a gangster theme with music from Theme of American Bandstand, Copacabana and Big Spender. Their color guard sported brilliantly colored gangster costumes.

However, one of the most unusual performances was by McNairy Central High School with their Out of the Jungle theme that proved to be a real crowd pleaser. Musicians sported jungle costumes complete with bones in their noses. They decorated the field with giant jungle masks weaving between band members.

Dyersburg High School’s theme was Bring Me Back Horizon, within which they sported costumes from days of old. In the middle of their performance they chanted, “Ghost story, ghost story, ghost story … you’re in one!” Trenton Peabody High School Bands of Gold entertained the crowd with Dawn of a New World. In their performance, they played digery dos, an ancient aboriginal instrument.

“A lot of work and a lot of effort go into their performances,” said Lisa Campbell, a Dyersburg parent. “They must be disciplined.”

While judges were tallying the scores, the UTM Skyhawk marching band wowed the audience — literally. Many ooos and ahhhs were heard from the high school students as the Skyhawks took the field.

Awards were presented by Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Tom Rakes, Humanities and Fine Arts Dean Jerald Ogg and Music Department Chair Kevin Lambert.

“It was nice to have them involved with the awards process and to be able to see the potential recruits and future UTM students,“ Amaral said. “We were pleased with the turnout. We would like to have a few more bands next year. It was a 100 percent success. It was exciting for me to have so many high school students involved with UTM students and faculty.”