Thirty-six bands from around the state showcased their talents in the 13th annual West Virginia State Marching Band Invitational Championship at the University of Charleston Stadium, Laidley Field in Charleston. Buckhannon-Upshur High School finished fifth in the drumline competition.
Cabell Midland High School won the Overall “Honor Band” Award and the Old Gold Division Grand Champion title, while Hurricane High School secured the Blue Division Grand Champion award. Bands were judged on general effect, marching and maneuvering, music, music effect, percussion, drum major, color guard, majorettes, and feature twirler.
Cabell Midland also claimed the 2024 Governor’s Cup Marching Band Series Championship trophy with a first-place finish in the overall standings. The Governor’s Cup consisted of ten local competitions and the Marching Band Invitational finals, with points awarded at each event.
This year’s event included a drumline competition, with Morgantown High School taking first prize.
The West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture and History (WVDACH) inducted two individuals into the State Marching Band Directors Hall of Fame: David Burton, former band director at Parkersburg High School, and W. Mel Saunders, who led the Bluefield High School band for 27 years.
The West Virginia State Marching Band Invitational Championship, sponsored by the WVDACH in collaboration with the Save The Music Foundation, Conn-Selmer Division of Education, the West Virginia Department of Education, and the Higher Education Policy Commission, serves to promote and celebrate arts education in West Virginia.
The winners of the State Marching Band Invitational Championship are as follows:
Governor’s Cup Marching Band Series
- Champion: Cabell Midland High School
- 1st Runner-Up: PikeView High School
- 2nd Runner-Up: Greenbrier East High School
- 3rd Runner-Up: Woodrow Wilson High School
- 4th Runner-Up: Philip Barbour High School/ Princeton High School
Overall Awards (Honor Band)
- West Virginia State Honor Band: Cabell Midland High School
- 1st Runner-up: Musselman High School
- 2nd Runner-up: Jefferson High School
- 3rd Runner-up: Philip Barbour High School
- 4th Runner-up: Greenbrier East High School
Division Awards
- Old Gold Division Grand Champion: Cabell Midland High School
- Old Gold Division 1st Runner-Up: Musselman High School
- Old Gold Division 2nd Runner-Up: Jefferson High School
- Old Gold Division Best Music: Cabell Midland High School
- Old Gold Division Best Marching: Cabell Midland High School
- Old Gold Division Best General Effect: Musselman High School
- Blue Division Grand Champion: Hurricane High School
- Blue Division 1st Runner-Up: PikeView High School
- Blue Division 2nd Runner-Up: Paden City High School
- Blue Division Best Music: Liberty (Harrison) High School
- Blue Division Best Marching: Hurricane High School
- Blue Division Best General Effect: Hurricane High School
Class A Band Awards
- 1st Place: Cabell Midland High School
- 2nd Place: Musselman High School
- 3rd Place: Jefferson High School
Class A Best Overall Awards
Percussion:
- 1st Place: Cabell Midland High School
- 2nd Place: Musselman High School
- 3rd Place: Jefferson High School
Color Guard:
- 1st Place: Cabell Midland High School
- 2nd Place: Jefferson High School
- 3rd Place: Musselman High School
Drum Major:
- 1st Place: Musselman High School
- 2nd Place: Cabell Midland High School
- 3rd Place: Jefferson High School
Soloist:
- Musselman High School – accordion
Class B Band Awards
- 1st Place: Greenbrier East High School
- 2nd Place: Princeton High School
- 3rd Place: Woodrow Wilson High School
Class B Best Overall Awards
Percussion:
- 1st Place: Princeton High School
- 2nd Place: Woodrow Wilson High School
- 3rd Place: Tyler Consolidated High School
Color Guard:
- 1st Place: Greenbrier East High School
- 2nd Place: Princeton High School
- 3rd Place: Woodrow Wilson High School
Drum Major:
- 1st Place: Woodrow Wilson High School
- 2nd Place: Princeton High School
- 3rd Place: Robert C. Byrd High School
Soloist:
- Woodrow Wilson High School – baritone
Class C1 Band Awards
- 1st Place: PikeView High School
- 2nd Place: Shady Spring High School
- 3rd Place: Liberty (Harrison) High School
Class C1 Overall Awards
Percussion:
- 1st Place: Liberty (Harrison) High School
- 2nd Place: PikeView High School
- 3rd Place: Bluefield High School
Color Guard:
- 1st Place: Shady Spring High School
- 2nd Place: PikeView High School
- 3rd Place: Liberty (Harrison) High School
Drum Major:
- 1st Place: Parkersburg High School
- 2nd Place: Braxton County High School
- 3rd Place: Bluefield High School
Soloist:
- PikeView High School – flute
Class C2 Band Awards
- 1st Place: Hurricane High School
- 2nd Place: Paden City High School
- 3rd Place: Wayne High School
Class C2 Best Overall Awards
Percussion:
- 1st Place: Paden City High School
- 2nd Place: Hurricane High School
- 3rd Place: Wayne High School
Color Guard:
- 1st Place: Hurricane High School
- 2nd Place: James Monroe High School
- 3rd Place: Wayne High School
Drum Major:
- 1st Place: Hurricane High School
- 2nd Place: North Marion High School
- 3rd Place: Paden City High School
Soloist:
- Paden City High School – trumpet
Class D1 Band Awards
- 1st Place: Capital High School
- 2nd Place: Ravenswood High School
- 3rd Place: St. Marys High School
Class D1 Best Overall Awards
Percussion:
- 1st Place: Capital High School
- 2nd Place: Ravenswood High School
- 3rd Place: St. Marys High School
Color Guard:
- 1st Place: Ravenswood High School
- 2nd Place: St. Marys High School
- 3rd Place: Wirt County High School
Drum Major:
- 1st Place: St. Marys High School
- 2nd Place: Ravenswood High School
- 3rd Place: Capital High School
Soloist:
- Summers County High School – alto sax
Class D2 Band Awards
- 1st Place: Calhoun County High School
- 2nd Place: Webster County High School
- 3rd Place: Wyoming East High School
Class D2 Best Overall Awards
Percussion:
- 1st Place: Calhoun County High School
- 2nd Place: Liberty (Raleigh) High School
- 3rd Place: Wyoming East High School
Color Guard:
- 1st Place: Calhoun County High School
- 2nd Place: Webster County High School
- 3rd Place: Wyoming East High School
Drum Major:
- 1st Place: Wyoming East High School
- 2nd Place: Liberty (Raleigh) High School
- 3rd Place: Webster County High School
Soloist:
- Webster County High School – flute
Drum Competition
- Champion: Morgantown High School
- 1st Runner-Up: Paden City High School
- 2nd Runner-Up: Princeton High School
- 3rd Runner-Up: Jefferson High School
- 4th Runner-Up: Parkersburg High School
- 5th Runner-Up: Buckhannon-Upshur High School
- 6th Runner-Up: Westside High School
- 7th Runner-Up: Webster County High School
- 8th Runner-Up: Liberty (Raleigh) High School
Miss Majorette
- Miss Majorette: Katelyn Wooten, Woodrow Wilson High School
- Miss Majorette Runner-Up: Micah Smith, Webster County High School
Natalea Mumaw Memorial Best Overall Twirler
- Woodrow Wilson High School
Best Overall Majorettes
- Philip Barbour High School
Best Dressed Director
- Leslie Riedel, Capital High School
