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Wlaf1450A NOTE FROM THE GRAND ON CENTRAL: “There is so much good going on in our community, and I want to share all this good with you every Monday here on WLAF in hopes that you will start your week in a grand way making each week a Grand Week,” said Olivia Lobertini, owner of The Grand on Central.
By Charlotte Underwood
JACKSBORO, TN (WLAF)- The Campbell County High School Marching Band will debut its new music and moves on Monday, August 3, at 8pm, for the “parent performance show”. The public will be able to check out the action on August 21st, during the half-time show of the first home-town football game.
See the photo gallery from WLAF’s Charlie Hutson HERE.
According to Co- Band Director Tiffany Braden, this year will feature “probably the hardest show” the kids have ever taken on, with “more difficult music and drills, which has taken more work.”
She said the students and the staff had been great and that this year’s leadership team is “the best” they’ve ever had.
This year’s marching band has been working hard this summer, braving rain and heat to prepare for its new show. The band is a “bit bigger” with 57 students in marching band this year over last year’s 53. Band camp started several weeks ago, with the kids putting in long days to bring it all together.
Veteran/Rookie Band Camp started in mid-July, with kids sometimes putting in 12-hour days to learn new skills and styles.
“They did amazing; they didn’t complain, they appreciated the extra time it gave them to perfect their craft and they’re doing awesome with it,” Braden said.
“This year, our drill is getting a lot cleaner, a lot faster and we are already ahead of the program. These kids are working really hard; our first week was really rainy and they were out there in a downpour, and this week was pretty hot, but they are out there day in and out working extremely hard and we are ahead of schedule. Our student leadership is the best we’ve ever had and there are so many things they are doing that is making this all go super smooth,” Braden said.
The kids learn the music and the drill separately and then it all comes together for the performance.
The theme for this year will be “Olympus” as in the Greek Gods and will include three movements. For those in the audience, they’re in for a treat, as this year’s show will feature theatrical characters on the field representing Zues, Poseidon and Aphrodite. The first movement is called Poseidon, the second is Aphrodite and the third movement is Zeus.
“This is a show I looked at doing last year, but it felt a little too difficult with the instrumentation at the time, but we found it again this year and everybody was like ‘yes, this is the show’. Normally we vote, but this year, everyone felt like it was time to do this show. They are doing a great job with it, so I am glad we had the faith in them to pick a difficult show,” Braden said.
Two years ago, the CCHS Marching band switched to a “more of a production style of marching show, with more theatrics going on as opposed to the more military style of marching band. The kids and audiences have been loving it!
“Some of the changes were sudden and others gradual and we have just been adding more and more new stuff and extra more modern things,” Braden said.
“We have some really excellent students already showing incredible potential for future leadership and I can’t wait to see how working on this show improves their musicianship and their leadership,” Braden said.
She said the student’s marching technique was “already looking great” and that the show would also feature some special solo performances.
The boat from last year has been turned into Mount Olympus, which will feature soloists performing on it.
Senior Jace Huddleston will be performing a clarinet solo while dressed in a Zeus costume and Junior Noah Campbell will be performing a trumpet solo dressed as Poseidon.
“It’s kind of a duet, but it’s very different music they are playing up there, and then we have a guard feature for junior Ava Wilson, and she will be Aphrodite up on the mountain, so we are utilizing that mountain to feature our soloists and we are putting our soloists in themed costumes,” Braden said.
The head drum major this year is senior Kiana Fultz, and Lydia Walker is the junior drum major. Both of them will also be in Greek themed costumes.
The band’s first competition will be at Clinton on September 21st, with additional competitions taking place in October.
“I’m so excited for this year in band, I think it is going to be one of the best one’s yet!” Braden said.
She also wanted to say a huge thank you the band staff, the administration, CCHS athletic directors Ryan Browning and Olivia Lobertini, as well as the director of schools and the school board “for all they do to support the program.”
“We also want to say thank you to all the people who have provided meals. Every meal we have had the past two weeks has been provided by community members and different businesses and we want to say thank you for that. Thank you to all of the parents, volunteers, businesses, and community members for your support. Whether you provided/served a meal, donated snacks and drinks, helped alter uniforms, moved equipment, or just encouraged us, we appreciate ALL of you!” Braden said.
Come out to Reynolds Field on August 21st and catch the CCHS Marching Band in action!
A NOTE FROM THE GRAND ON CENTRAL: “There is so much good going on in our community, and I want to share all this good with you every Monday here on WLAF in hopes that you will start your week in a grand way making each week a Grand Week,” said Olivia Lobertini, owner of The Grand on Central.
For bookings, email Olivia Lobertini at ohlobertini03@gmail.com. Check on avails HERE. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED-08/03/2026-6AM-PHOTOS COURTESY OF WLAF’S CHARLIE HUTSON)