Centerville’s Blue Regiment won the Jay County Lions Club band contest on July 22 at the Jay County fairgrounds in Portland.
Centerville’s heist-themed show, “Safe,” stole first place from the host band, Jay County, led by Centerville’s former director Charles Roesch.
This is not the first time Centerville has won one of the contests sanctioned by the Central Indiana Track Show Association, which oversees all of the contests preceding Indiana State Fair Band Day. In 2021, Centerville won the Anderson Tournament of Tartan Bands contest and, in 2007, Centerville won the now defunct Delaware County Fairgrounds band competition.
Rounding out the top six at the Jay County contest were Winchester, Anderson, Muncie Central and Richmond.
Wayne County’s other two bands in the Jay County contest were Hagerstown, which finished 18th, and Lincoln, which finished 19th.
Regional bands of interest participating at Portland included Henry County (a new summer band formed from band members from Blue River Valley, Knightstown, Shenandoah and Tri high schools), 11th; Union County, 14th; and Randolph Southern, 16th.
On July 23, Northeastern was the only Wayne County band taking part in competition, earning fourth at the Muncie Central Spirit of Sound contest at Muncie Central High School.
Hagerstown was scheduled to perform, but the group’s director Rebecca Sims posted on Facebook that they would not because of concerns about rainy weather and because some students had been ill during the week.
Regional bands of interest competing at Muncie included Monroe Central, which finished eighth, and Union County, which finished 15th.
None of the Wayne County bands or regional favorites took part in the Montgomery County Golden Lion Invitational July 21 in Crawfordsville. The Montgomery County United band took home the top trophy. The other competitors included Sheridan, second; Tipton, third; Western Boone, fourth; Wabash Valley, fifth; and Cardinal Ritter, sixth.
Competition for bands focused on Indiana State Fair Band Day on Aug. 5 continues at 6:30 p.m. Friday, July 29, at Highland Middle School in Anderson. Two Wayne County bands — Centerville, appearing at 7:24 p.m.; and Richmond, appearing at 9:05 p.m. — will be among the 23 competing. Regional favorites competing include Monroe Central at 7:33 p.m.; and Henry County at 9:41 p.m.
The final contest before Band Day will be the Drums at Winchester contest at 7 p.m. Saturday, July 30, at Winchester Community High School. Four Wayne County bands will be among the 20 competitors, including Northeastern, 7 p.m.; Lincoln, 8:59 p.m.; Hagerstown, 9:17 p.m.; and Richmond, 9:35 p.m. Regional favorites include Union County, 7:27 p.m.; Monroe Central, 7:36 p.m.; Randolph Southern, 9:44 p.m.; Winchester, 10:02 p.m.; and Henry County, 10:11 p.m.
On Aug. 5, Indiana State Fair Band Day preliminary competition for 39 bands begins at 9 a.m.
Wayne County participants include Richmond, Class AAA, 10:12 a.m.; Hagerstown, Class A, 11:57 a.m.; Lincoln, Class A, 1:42 p.m.; Centerville, Class AA, 2:36 p.m.; and Northeastern, Class AA, 4:03 p.m.
Regional favorites participating include Union County, Class A, 11:12 a.m.; Winchester, Class AAA, 1:24 p.m.; Monroe Central, Class A, 1:51 p.m.; Henry County, Class AA, 2 p.m.; Connersville, Class AA, 3:18 p.m.; and Randolph Southern, Class A, 4:12 p.m.
Class sizes are only used for awards during the preliminary round of competition and are based upon the number of wind and percussion playing members in the band. Class A bands have 25 or fewer players; Class AA bands have 26 to 50 players; and Class AAA bands have 50 or more players.
The Sweet 16 selected for the evening finals are chosen based upon their overall scores, without regard for class placement.

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