Southern Invitational Music Festival
Participating bands
Maryville High School
Maryville, TN
Maryville High School Red Rebel Marching Band
Show: Baroque Remix: You Can't HANDEL This - I'll be BACH
Show description:
Featuring musical selections from two of the greatest composers in the history of Western music – Johann (pronounced “Yo-hahn”) Sebastian Bach and George Frideric (pronounced “Free-derick”) Handel. Featured soloists include Michael John Riosa, Andrew Smith, Brody Williams, Connor Faller (pronounced “Fowler”), Christian Ashmore, Hana Nishimura, Colton Lohr, and Pax LaDuke.
Director:
Jonathan Leichman and Sean Copeland
Drum Majors:
Noah Jackson and Laura Robbins.
Instructors:
Naomi Leichman, Don Lordo, Destiny Mardis, and Ryen Hart
Marist School
Atlanta, GA
Marist War Eagle Marching Band
Show: Above and Beyond: Echoes Across the Galaxy
Show description:
• Over The Hills and Far Away • Stairway to Heaven • Houses of The Holy • Living Loving Maid
Director:
Aaron Schmitt, Ben Barber
Drum Major:
Sam Eckstein
Instructors:
Brass: Roger Cicora Pit: Mark Gallegos Colorguard: Fallon Harris
Peachtree Ridge High School
Suwanee, GA
Peachtree Ridge High School Marching Band
Show: Fathoms Below
Show description:
Fathoms Below is a show about being caught in the deep unknowns of the ocean. What lies beneath and what awaits a sailor's descent into Davy Jones' locker. The struggle and turmoil of being caught in the unknown and the hope and prospect of being set free. Join us on our journey fathoms below.
Directors:
Briana Curtis and Jacob Mercer
Drum Majors:
Julia Lee, Adi Arora, and Eric Torres
Instructors:
Nelson Dean, Julia Reda, Natalie Allbright, Lennon Pike, Rachel Orlandella, Billy Pacifico, Tim Nguyen, Breland Thomas, Sarah Secrist and Devin Witt.
River Ridge High School
Woodstock, GA
The Marching Knights
Show: Outside the Box
Show description:
We begin our journey trapped in a box. As the show progresses we find that our body is the cage and our mind holds the key. We embrace creativity, find hope, and finally we are set FREE!
Director:
Josh Tyree
Drum Majors:
Joseph Tyree, Ryan Tucker, Bryson Boldin
Instructors:
Visual caption head is Will Stauts, percussion director is Michael Ollman, and colorguard director is Wesley Freshwater, Band staff includes Greg Roman, Sarah Sterns, Alex Lammens, JJ McLaughlin, David Harrell, Bruce Gates, Tim Landers, Preston Justice, Christian Wright and David Sanchez
Allatoona High School
Acworth, GA
Allatoona High School Band
Show: Red Handed
Show description:
Music from “Red” from the descendants by Alex Boniello , Diamonds by Rihanna, In the air tonight by Phil Collins
Directors:
Mark Gurnow and Aaron Crowe
Drum Majors:
Elizabeth Buchanan and Ethan Hwangbo
Sequoyah High School
Canton, GA
Band of Chiefs
Show: Bored of Education
Show description:
Musical selections include “Another Brick in the Wall” by Pink Floyd, “Summer Dances” by Brian Balmages, “This Used to be My Playground” by Madonna, and “School’s Out” by Alice Cooper.
Director:
Chad Smith
Drum Majors:
Layne Davidson and Kimberly Strickland
Instructors:
Hayden Laney, Sophia DiLorenzo, Cohen Molina, Josh Leibowitz, Kevin Tran, Jesse Renfrow, Tiffany Weck
Lassiter High School
Marietta, GA
Lassiter Trojan Marching Band
Show: At the Core
Show description:
​In At the Core, the apple becomes more than just a fruit-it becomes a symbol woven through history, folklore, science, and modern culture. This five-movement production explores how one simple image has captivated human imagination for centuries.
• Movement I – Temptation An original composition inspired by the Garden of Eden, this movement evokes the allure and danger of the forbidden fruit, setting the stage for a journey through myth and meaning.
• Movement II – Poisoned The story of Snow White’s fateful bite is brought to life with Berlioz’s Witches’ Sabbath, blending fairytale darkness with dramatic orchestral power.
• Movement III – Gravity The iconic moment of Isaac Newton’s falling apple transforms into a celebration of discovery and curiosity, set to Sara Barellis’s contemporary pop anthem Gravity.
• Movement IV – Innovation An original composition infused with digital soundscapes and the voice of SIRI reflects Apple Computers’ revolution of modern technology and culture.
• Movement V – The Big Apple The show concludes in the energy and excitement of New York City, with music drawn from iconic “New York” themes that celebrate the city’s pulse and enduring spirit. In Johan Demaij’s symphony no2 the big apple mvt. 2 Skyline.
Director:
James Thompson, Jeff Harper, and Kimberly Snyder
Drum Majors:
​Bartol Besedes, Ali Phillips, and Shriya Sinha
Instructors:
​Percussion is directed Kyle Parciany the color guard is lead by director Megan Phillips with assistance from Scott Beck. Other instructors include movement specialist, Daniel Benton, percussion techs Jonathan Chastain and Jamie Lepage.
Marietta High School
Marietta, GA
Marietta High School Blue Devil Marching Band
Show: On The Contrary
Show description:
Music selections: Moonlight Sonata by Ludwig Van Beethoven, 160 by Hans Zimmer, Sound of Silence by Simon and Garfunkel, With Heart and Voice by David Gillingham, Here Comes The Sun, The Beatles.
Directors:
Paul Marimon and Ross Amend
Drum Majors:
Kathleen Spaniol, CJ Giancola, Abdul Ruffai
Instructors:
Laura Eblen - Guard Director, Matt Pate - Percussion Director Nabra Asgedom, Visual Coordinator Riley Carson, Brass Caption Head Hunter Schleis, Percussion staff Caitlin Cobb, Guard assistant Director Simone Van Pletzen, Brass staff Sarah Swift, Woodwind staff Jaydn Green, Woodwind Staff Ximena Laguna, Woodwind Staff Buddy Saint, Brass Staff Chase Moore, staff Quintavious Carter, percussion staff Heidi Woods, staff Hannah Marimon, Staff
Etowah High School
Woodstock, GA
Etowah High School Marching Eagle Band
Show: Vieux Carre – Old Square
Show description:
Vieux Carre translates into Old Square and representative of the French Quarter in New Orleans, LA. Our program is set in the heart of this famous district of New Orleans. You’ll hear familiar themes, “House of the Rising Sun”, Saint-Saens’ “Danse Macabre”, “His Eye Is On The Sparrow”, “Just A Closer Walk With Thee”, “Iko, Iko”, “Second Line”, “Cassanova”, and a return to “House of the Rising Sun”. This will take the audience on a journey through 4 French Quarter vignettes: The Graveyard with “Danse Macabre”, a New Orleans funeral procession, some street performances, and Mardi Gras. All of this beginning and ending with our theme of “House of the Rising Sun” making a complete “square” and return to the beginning.
Directors:
​Stephen Long and Annissa Hackney
Drum Majors:
Mihini Senanayake, Ezra Lin, Prad Vasishta
Instructors:
Kris Harris, Kaylee Ferrin, Allister Simpson, David O’Dell, Ryan Greer, Donte Jones, Levi Helms, Drake Wright, Anthony Segura
Cass High School
White, GA
The Cass High School Marching Band
Show: This is the Album of the Future
Show description:
The show uses music and visual elements to explore the idea of a compact disc (CD), including features like programmed playback, fast-forwarding, and repeating musical phrases.
Directors:
​Samuel Iddings and Alex Shive
Drum Major:
Charlotte Langhans, Nicholas Moser, Riley Ingram
Instructors:
​Announced with program
Exhibition Performances
Kell High School
Marietta, GA
Longhorn Marching Band
Show: Star Worlds
Show description and music:
"Star Worlds" explores music and imagery that represents stars in the sky as well as stars in our own program and features music by Bjork, Holst, Coldplay, Rachmaninoff, and the hit musical “Wicked." Listen for musical motifs sprinkled in that have to do with stars, and look for drill formations and visual elements that represent the stars in the night sky.
Directors:
David Roth and Taylor Watts
Drum Majors:
Adrian Harry, Gavin Marsil, Hua Shi, Noah Tibbetts
Instructors:
Rebekah Chadderdon, Sharon Gustafson, Ryan Glover, Jacinda Santos, Sebastien Moneyron, Jacob Blumberg, Billy Ryan, Rayford Levy, Kelsey Owen, Barbara Cortes, Beyonce Thousand, Paul Dickson, Drew Paller
Sprayberry High School
Marietta, GA
Band of Gold
Show: The Ferryman’s Toll: Underworld
Show description and music:
In The Ferryman’s Toll: Underworld, the field becomes the River Styx—an ancient and unyielding path between the living world and the realm beyond. Guided by the mysterious ferryman, Charon, souls begin their journey into the Underworld, where shadowed gates open and fate takes hold. As they wander through kingdoms of silence and memory, some dare to escape, reaching back toward the world they once knew. But the Underworld is not easily left behind. With every step toward freedom, the river rises, the toll is demanded, and the pull of fate tightens. This is not just a passage—it is a reckoning. And the Ferryman always returns.
Directors:
Terrace Ellis and Bradley Rikard
Drum Majors:
Chloe Meola and Logan Moree
Instructors:
Alaina Quiles, Alan Sears, Danielle Lanier, Deandre Ferdinand, Dominique Akassee, Elena Valarino, Raphael De Jesus, Zach Opitz