MTSU School of Music professor Reed Thomas, front left, director of bands, congratulates members of the Seigel High School Marching Band for their performance at the 58th Contest of Champions. Shown in the background at left, is Craig Cornish, professor of music and director of athletic bands at MTSU. Seigel captured reserve champion honors. MTSU photo by Cat Curtis Murphy

MTSU’s School of Music resumed the nation’s longest-running marching band competition after its hiatus in 2020.

The 58th Contest of Champions was held Saturday, Oct. 23, on Jones Field inside the MTSU Floyd Stadium, featuring 19 high school bands from four states.

Taking the grand champion prize was Pope High School of Marietta, Georgia, followed by reserve champion honors to Siegel High School of Murfreesboro and honorary mention going to Bartlett High School of Bartlett, Tennessee.

Pope High School of Marietta, Ga., took home the grand champion prize for their performance at the 58th Contest of Champions. Presenting the band with their awards are, far right, Jennifer Vannatta-Hall, interim director of the MTSU School of Music, and next to her, Leah Lyons, interim dean of the MTSU College of Liberal Arts. (Submitted photo)

“This year’s return of the Contest of Champions brought energy, wonderful music, and beautiful artistry to MTSU’s campus,” said Jennifer Vannatta-Hall, interim director of the MTSU School of Music.

“Our athletic band faculty and staff worked tirelessly to execute the event, which brought in high school students from across the region. It was a wonderful opportunity to both showcase our regional high school marching bands and bring talented prospective students and their families to campus.”

The Seigel High School Marching Band of Murfreesboro, Tenn., took home the reserve champion prize for their performance. Presenting the band with their awards are, far right, Leah Lyons, interim dean of the MTSU College of Liberal Arts, and next to her, Jennifer Vannatta-Hall, interim director of the MTSU School of Music. (Submitted photo)

MTSU’s late music professor emeritus Joseph T. Smith, longtime leader of the Band of Blue marching band, started the Contest of Champions competition in 1962 to encourage high school musicians and to showcase the university for potential students and their families.

Smith and the late Horace C. Beasley, who directed the concert band and Campus School band for MTSU, are recognized as the contest’s founding directors.

During the competition, judges evaluate each ensemble on its musical and marching proficiency and the effectiveness of its overall performance, using a caption judging system.

MTSU’s approximately 275-member Band of Blue, the university’s largest student organization, hosts each Contest of Champions and performs during the event to celebrate with its young musical colleagues.

For more information on the Contest of Champions, scoring recaps and more, visit mtsu.edu/coc.