‘Grand Champion’ among Bob Jones Band’s Coldwater awards

MADISON – In its last contest for 2022, Bob Jones High School Competition Band claimed top awards at the Coldwater Classic marching competition.

Deshler High School in Tuscumbia hosted the event on Nov. 5.

The 2022 competition show, “The Flame,” “was loosely based on Disney’s ‘Hocus Pocus’ in honor of the second installment that came out at the end of September,” Bob Jones Band Director Leigh Thomas said. Kevin Smart is Assistant Director at Bob Jones.

The stack of awards that Bob Jones Competition Band claimed at Coldwater included “Grand Champion” along with “Gold Division Winner” for Band, Color Guard, Percussion, Drum Major and Dance Line. To reach that title, Bob Jones ranked as superior, the highest possible rating, in all those categories for the band’s various squads.

In addition, Bob Jones captured the honor of “Most Entertaining Band.” John Baumbach won “Overall Soloist” with a rousing, emotional jazz performance on tenor saxophone.

“Our competition band had 121 members this year. We had 13 in color guard, 29 on percussion and around 80 winds,” Thomas said.

Drum majors for 2022 are Emma Cook, Taylor Cunningham, Anaya Parker and Putri Wasistho. Charlie Grimes serves as Band Captain.