Hempfield to Host Band Fest

Originally published in The News-Dispatch, October 18, 1978

The Hempfield Band will host its 9th Annual Band Festival at Spartan Stadium. Greensburg. Pa., on Saturday, October 21 at 7:30 pm.

The festival this year will include the following bands: The Mt. Pleasant Vikings, The Norwin Knights, The Penn-Trafford "Big Green Machine," The Latrobe Wildcats, The Yough Cougars, The Churchill Chargers, The Valley Vikings, The Southmoreland Scotties, The Connelsville Falcons, and The Hempfield Spartans.

The Hempfield Band Parents Association will be the sponsor of this affair. The General Chairperson is Mrs. George Gross while Mrs. Carl Bodenshatz will handle the tickets. The tickets will be on sale by the band members, band parents and at the gate. The profits from this junction will help finance the activities the band will participate in this year.

The Hempfield Band is composed of 115 musicians, 10 majorettes, and 35 colorguard. They are under the direction of Mr. Roderick Booker. The field directors are Drum Majors Martha Obenski and Michelle Larrow, Majorette Captain Pam Ciavarra, and Colorguard Captain Kathy Gross.

In the past year the band journeyed to Lakeland, Florida to participate in the Southern Florida College Invitational where the Spartans won two silver and one bronze medals.

In previous years they have traveled to Texas, Tennessee, New Jersey, New York, and Canada. They also led the Home Coming Parade for IUP, Indiana, Pa. This year they were the honor band bringing in the Home Coming Queen.