Preparation for the 2025-26 Adair County Band is in full swing. Band members practice daily to be ready for their exhibition performance on Saturday, Aug. 23 at the 48th annual Mark Twain Festival in Columbia.
Under the leadership of Adair County Band Director Johnathan Holmes, the marching band is growing with about 20 more members than last year.
“What is cool about this year for us, largely most of that increase is younger musicians. We are excited that while they are young, they are very teachable and moldable and they’re excited to be a part of this historic tradition” said Holmes.
The students participate in a one-week visual camp which teaches them how to stand, how to look, have the Adair County band pride in how they carry themselves without their instruments. Next is a two-week band camp where they learn how to hold their instruments and learn their show routine which will be performed for the first time in front of an audience at the Mark Twain.
“Our biggest thing that we have tried to instill in our kids is to understand what great band culture is. Not just with marching band, but concert band, color guard, winter guard, percussion and really all of those things. So the atmosphere is kind of prime for great things to happen.” Said Holmes.
Several of the students chose to participate in other camps over the summer. Field Commander Daria Cheng attended the Bands of America leadership and field commander camps. A few of the color guard members attended the Bands of America camp that was geared toward color guard.
Looking at the season ahead, Holmes said “We are really pumped. We are excited. We are really blessed because of the community, the whole community of Columbia is really primed to wanting the band to do well and we feel that”.
“This past year has been overwhelming with the amount of community support, the alumni that has come out and been involved. We had a Christmas parade and we had alumni that flew here from other states to be in our Christmas parade.”
“I just ask that the community and the alumni just keep on doing what they are doing. Our kids and staff can really feel that right now and that’s what our program needs more than anything is just people to come out and watch our kids perform, come to contests, come to state. Anything that people can do to show that support.”
“We are trying to do our part also to be a little bit more visible in the community” said Holmes. “We performed last year for an event put on by Mayor Hoots. We are trying to do everything we can to show that we are trying to give back for people who have done that for us”.
Marching band season will officially begin Sept. 6. The performance schedule is not complete at this time.
By Amy Pike
