Neshoba’s Big Blue band takes All-Superior

Neshoba Central's Big Blue Marching Band won All-Superior Saturday at the Northeast Regional Marching Championship hosted at Northeast Mississippi Community College and claimed the Grand Champion title. 

"The students did an outstanding job, and I am so proud of their accomplishments and hard work," said Daniel Wade, Neshoba Central Big Blue Band director. "This was a great day for our students and last year 2021 recent BIG BLUE alumni."

The Big Blue Marching Band competed against 29 bands from Mississippi, Alabama and Tennessee to claim the awards at the Northeast Regional Marching Championship hosted by Northeast Community College on Saturday in Booneville.

Allandra Dunaway, a Neshoba Central High School senior, received the Best Soloist Award and a $1,825 scholarship to Northeast Community College.

Neshoba Central's High School band is made up of 135 students from eighth through 12th grade and the band’s show is titled “Portraits of America” The show is titled “A Portrait of America” featuring traditional music such as “America the Beautiful” and also original music and sounds from Dvorak’s New World Symphony.

Wade said the Neshoba Central Big Blue Band had not been to a marching contest since 2019 due to the pandemic and other reasons. 

The Big Blue band awards earned include All Superior, Band, Color Guard, Percussion and Drum Major. Scoring included Best Class 5-A band, Best Class 5-A Color Guard, Best 5-A Drum Major, Overall Best Color Guard of the Championship, Class 4-A,5-A,6-A Sweepstakes Award, and Northeast Regional March Championship Grand Champion.