Classic competition

It’s the end of the season, and the players are aiming for a championship out on the field.

But it’s not football. It’s the Crystal Coast Band Classic.

The annual high school band competition is scheduled from noon to 9 p.m. Saturday at Havelock High School.

"This is the final time a lot of the bands will perform," said Jorge Benitez, band director at Havelock High. "A lot of bands build their season to this weekend. It’s their final performance, so it should be their best."

The event will feature 23 high school bands as well as a special performance by the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing Band at 8:35 p.m. prior to the awards ceremony.

As host, the Havelock High School band will not be competing but will put on two exhibition shows at 2:40 p.m. and 8:15 p.m.

Among those competing will be West Craven High and New Bern High, which won last year’s 1A division, West Carteret High and East Carteret High, which was the 4A champion last year. Bands from as far away as Roanoke Rapids, Wilmington and Elizabeth City are also scheduled to compete.

The event is one of Havelock’s largest, drawing 1,500 participants and about 4,000 people.

The cost is $8 for adults and $5 for children. Adults will receive a souvenir program. Food and drinks will be available for purchase, and various band items will be sold.

Proceeds from the event go to support the Havelock High band program.

"This is our biggest fundraiser of the year," Benitez said. "It funds almost half of our band expenditures."

Benitez said about two months of hard planning go into the event each year, and organizers are still looking for volunteers to help with various functions, including those who can help with concessions or tow trailers with band equipment.

The band is also accepting sponsorships for trophies, which range from $25 to $75.

The Havelock band has had a successful fall season, earning grand champion honors at the West Craven competition, reaching the finals of Wakefield’s band competition, and winning its division and placing second overall at the Cape Fear band competition.

"We had our best performance of the year at Cape Fear," Benitez said. "We’ve had a successful year."

He said those attending the event will get to see a perfect example of the good things that high school students are doing. They’ll also see a variety of themes and music.

For example, baseball, Robert Frost poems, space exploration and cartoons are just some themes of this year’s competitors. Music will include selections from the rock group Journey, Chicago, the Blues Brothers and Motown to classical selections as well.

"There are all kinds of music to see and hear," Benitez said. "It’s tremendous what kinds of ideas are in the minds of these band directors.

"And, the shows are more theatrical. It used to be just about the music and marching, but now they are entire shows that tell stories. They’re beautiful to watch."

For more information or to volunteer or become a trophy sponsor, call the Havelock High School band room at 444-5117 or go online to the band Web site at www.havelockband.com.