On Saturday, September 21, 20 bands from schools around Indiana will perform on Cook Field for the 38th annual Pride of Paoli Invitational. The event is hosted by members of the Paoli band and Band Boosters. There are four different divisions that bands compete in. Once every band has been showcased, the Pride will perform in exhibition to conclude the night but will not be competing. 

“I’m excited to host a bunch of really great bands, and I think it’s a great way to get the band and community involved, working together to be great hosts for these students and families from other schools. It’s a great thing to be able to provide an awesome panel of judges for these groups,” said Band Director Cory Chapman. 

Because Chapman is new to the Paoli band program, this will be his first experience with the Invitational.

“I am really looking forward to seeing our kids be positive ambassadors for our school and band.  I am also looking forward to meeting the rest of the area band directors, and seeing the results of their students’ hard work. While we are competitors week in and week out, the work all these students put in to their shows is incredible, and we should support them all,” said Chapman. 

There are many jobs that are assigned to band students and parents, such as guiding bands throughout the competition and helping them with anything they need and assisting judges. They also help out with parking, concessions, selling tickets, programs and buttons and filling up water at water stations for bands.

“I want to thank all of our sponsors, donors and supporters for helping to make an event like this possible. It truly takes the whole town to make this happen, and without their support, both financially and logistically, we couldn’t host this invitational,” said Chapman. 

There are over 60 businesses and individual sponsors who contributed financially to help make the Invitational possible. All of the money made from the Invitational will go towards the Pride’s marching band season.