Published: November 03, 2009 11:20 pm      

Allegany band gold medal finalist

Musicians runners up in Atlantic Coast Championship

CUMBERLAND — The Allegany High School Marching Band finished as a gold medal finalist and first runner-up in Group 3 at the Tournament of Bands Atlantic Coast Championships held Sunday at Hersheypark (Pa.) Stadium.

The band was escorted to the field by Principal Mike Calhoun and scored a season high of 95.20. The event featured 50 bands from seven states that competed in Groups 1 and 3. The invitational competition brings together only the top bands in each of four groups from 13 chapters located in New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Ohio and Pennsylvania.

Allegany has won the last 10 championships in its chapter before competing in the Atlantic Coast Championships and was once again the highest scoring band from Maryland in all four groups.

The top five winning groups were Mechanicsburg, Pa., with a score of 96.85; Allegany, 95.20; Camp Hill, Pa., 94.84; West Deptford, N.J., 94.20; and West Essex, N.J., 92.90. This concludes this year’s competition season for Allegany, which began in September.

This year’s band compiled 32 awards. This also marks the 12th year the band has finished in the top 10 at the Atlantic Coast Championships. The band also holds nine state championships.

Larry Jackson is in his 16th year as director of the award-winning marching band.