Chattooga Marching Indians earn superior ratings

The threat of storms on the Thursday before a Friday night game, the weekend of the first competition, makes for some stressful times for a marching band. But not for the Indian Band. Practicing fourth song movements in the War Lodge did not deter students, nor their director, Dr. Gene Greer. The skies cleared for the band to move out onto the football field to practice one last full run of the show during the last hour of practice.

A busy start to the Marching Indians competition season began Friday night as the older Tribe hosted their middle school counterparts for band night. Beginner bands from across the school system joined their bandmates in the stands to play tunes in support of the football team. At halftime, the middle school bands sat on the sidelines to see firsthand how a halftime show gets performed. From rolling on the props and instruments, to the final bow, the future Marching Indians watched in awe at what they could someday be a part of.

Saturday morning, September 27 was an early rise morning for the CHS Band as they met back at the band room to run through some sets of their show in the gym before loading busses to travel to Deatsville, Alabama to perform in their first competition of the 2025 season. After a lunch stop in Atalla, the band traveled to Marbury High School to perform in the 5thannual Camellia Marching Band Festival later Saturday afternoon. The Indian Band wowed crowds with their tribute to the Fab Four and even had John, Paul, George and Ringo make an appearance during the show to wave to the audience to complete the Beatlemania experience.

During the awards ceremony, the Chattooga Marching Indians earned superior ratings for band, color guard, dance line, drum line, and drum major. This was a fantastic way to return home to Chattooga County with their first hardware of the competition season.

Friday, Oct. 3, the CHS Band is home again as the Indians take on Fannin County and Beatlemania will charge onto the halftime field once again. If you have not had a chance to see this year’s performance, you are surely in for a treat.

Saturday, Oct. 4 the band will again load buses for their 2nd competition with a trip to Oneonta, Ala., to the Covered Bridge Marching Festival while will be held at Oneonta High School.

By Carla Love