As the competition season wraps up, students in the Elberta High School marching brand are celebrating their winning accomplishments.

Joshua Cockrell, band director, said the marching band competed in two competitions this season; the South Alabama and Daphne High Eastern Shore Classic Marching Band Championships. The band scored all superior ratings in all captions at the South Alabama Marching Band Championship in Mobile on Oct. 14 and took home Best in Class AAA Color Guard, Best in Class AAA Percussion, Best in Class AAA Band, Best in Division 1 Color Guard, Best in Division 1 Percussion and overall Grand Champion for Division 1 at the Eastern Shore Classic Marching Band Championships in Daphne on Oct. 21.

Cockrell said he is proud of all the band has accomplished this year and said the students have been hard at work since July preparing for the competition season.

"Every year, we start band camp in July, and the kids will start the week after the fourth [of July] and work straight through the summer until the competition time with practices," Cockrell said. "Seeing all their hard work come to fruition now just shows their dedication and what lengths they go to for our show."
Cockrell said there are around 87 students in the marching band and color guard and practice in both designated class periods and after school practices.

"This year, our show is called 'Moving Through Time' and features songs from different time periods throughout the show," Cockrell said.

Cockrell said among the featured songs is "Time" by Pink Floyd, "Dust in the Wind" by Kansas and "Viva la Vida" by Coldplay, and he said he has enjoyed seeing the show come together throughout the past few months.

"My favorite part is always seeing the show worked throughout the competition time and seeing the finished product," Cockrell said. "And the kids don't slow down. Now, we will shift gears and start working on parades for the upcoming holiday season and school concerts. The jazz band is getting ready to take part in our Christmas programs, and soon the kids will start auditioning for county honor band, All-State band and winter guard (indoor color guard)."

Cockrell said there will be two more opportunities for community members to catch the award winning show, during half-time at the two remaining Elberta High School football games. The next game will be on Oct. 27 at B.C. Rain High School in Mobile, followed by the final game on Nov. 3 at Citronelle High School in Mobile.