KMEA votes to cancel 2020 state marching band competition season

BOWLING GREEN, Ky.- Summer for high school aged musicians usually means the area is filled with the sounds of brass, woodwind and percussion, as students prepare for the upcoming marching band season.

Covid-19 has silenced these bands. The Kentucky Music Educators Association met Thursday and voted 11-1 to cancel the 2020 state marching band competition season, a painful realization, even for former marchers.

“I find it heartbreaking honestly. I loved competition. It was part of what made it so fun. Without having that goal to work towards, it’s just a downer, especially for the seniors,” said Rylee McKee.

Responding to the news, some local high schools have decided to cancel summer band camp altogether, keeping the musical outlet alive through other means, such as pep band performances at sporting events. Local competitions are left up to the districts. Local band directors say they’re searching for ideas.

“I do feel like it’s the band directors role and responsibility to make necessary adjustments and find a way to still create great performance opportunities for the kids,” said Glasgow High School band director Jonathon Holmes.

Band directors say safety is the Number 1 priority, but for those students that need a creative outlet, staff are hard at work finding a way.

“I’m concerned about their emotional health and some complications that might result from them not having this that they can really put their heart and soul into,” Holmes said.

While no state competition means no trophies added to the case, both former marchers and band directors agree that the real prize is the sense of unity.

“Whenever you have to spend that amount of time with people, and work with people towards the same goal, you become more unified,” McKee said.