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Welcome to the 2026 Edition of the Celtic Classic Hosted by Your Glenvar High School Marching Highlanders
Welcome Letter from Director of Bands Mr. Nicholas Alford
Your 2026 Glenvar High School Marching Highlanders
Bridgewater College Screamin' Eagles Marching Band
Concessions Items and Prices
Hill City Music
Tap on each band to jump to their section!!
William Byrd
October 3rd, 2026
Good day and welcome to the annual Celtic Classic here at Glenvar High School! We are extremely excited to have bands from all over the area and we hope you are excited as well. Today we have 12 bands in attendance and we are looking forward to a fantastic day of music!
All the bands here with us today have been working very hard since July to perfect their show to the best of their ability and every one of them have made tremendous progress leading up to today. In respect of all their hard work, we ask that you please show all participating bands respect and remain silent during each performance (with exceptions, cheering of course!) and support their on-field achievements. We seek to foster a positive atmosphere of support and good sportsmanship here on campus and hope you will carry on this tradition!
The Marching Highlanders and GHS Band Boosters are proud to be your hosts today at the Celtic Classic. If at any time you need assistance with anything, or just have any questions please do not hesitate to find one of our volunteers and reach out. Please take the time to review this program and take special note of all the performances we have lined up for today.
We thank you for your attendance and support today. As directors, we know that we could not possibly do our job without the support of the parents, drivers, and volunteers of all sorts who help make our jobs just a little bit easier. We sincerely hope that you enjoy today’s performances here at the Celtic Classic!
Best,
Nick Alford
Director of Bands, Glenvar
Schedule of Performances
National Anthem..............................................................................2:50 PM
Class A
Liberty Marching Minutemen.........................................................3:00 PM
Gretna Marching Hawks...................................................................3:15 PM
Eastern Montgomery Marching Band..............................................3:30 PM
Class Break......................................................................................3:45 PM
Class AA
The Pride of Floyd County..............................................................4:00 PM
Nelson County Marching Governors................................................4:15 PM
Tunstall Trojan Vanguard................................................................4:30 PM
Class Break......................................................................................4:45 PM
Class AAA
Radford Regiment............................................................................5:15 PM
The Pride of Northside....................................................................5:30 PM
Cave Spring Marching Knights........................................................5:45 PM
Class AAAA
Franklin County Marching Eagles..................................................6:00 PM
Dinner Break....................................................................................6:15 PM
Class AAAAA
The Pride of Patrick County............................................................7:30 PM
William Byrd Marching Terriers.....................................................7:45 PM
Exhibition
Glenvar Marching Highlanders......................................................8:00 PM
Bridgewater College Screamin' Eagles Marching Band...................8:15 PM
Awards.............................................................................................8:30 PM
Glenvar High School Marching Highlanders
Directed by Mr. Nicholas Alford
Performing their 2026 Field Show Entitled:
The Last Stand
Featuring Soloists:
Brooklyn Hemphill on Alto Saxophone, Israel Pennington on Tenor Saxophone, Ethan Clayton on Trumpet, and Allen Blakey on Clarinet
Staff Includes:
Mr. Stephen Chisum - Assistant Director and Color Guard Director
Mr. Matthew Homoroc - Percussion Instructor
Mr. Dakota McBride - Music/Visual Instructor
Ms. Keirstin Porter - Colorguard Instructor
Student Leadership:
Drum Major: Morgan Lawson
Field Commander: Brooklyn Hemphill
Clarinet Section Leader: Emily Tayloe
Saxophone Section Leader: Israel Pennington
Mellophone Section Leader: Roman Isbell
Trumpet Section Leader: Ethan Clayton
Baritone Section Leader: Ashton Honaker
Sousaphones and Low Reeds Section Leader: Ashton Peffer
Battery Captain: Anna Edwards
Front Ensemble Captain: Isaac Mullins
Band Quartermasters: Zeke Starkey and Colt Stewart
Color Guard Captains: Hadley Hartman, Sam Miller, Cheyanne Perkins, and Priya Patel
Color Guard Quartermasters: Mykena Aldridge, Bella Arnett, Wendy Lawson, and Lauren Smith
2026-2027 Seniors: Tenor Sax Israel Pennington, and Guard Members Mykena Aldridge, Bella Arnett, Sam Miller, Tristan Morgan, Cheyanne Perkins, and Priya Patel
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Bridgewater College Screamin' Eagles Marching Band
Directed by Prof. Barry Flowe
Performing their 2026 Field Show Entitled:
American Divas
Musical Selections Include:
Like Prayer by Madonna, RESPECT by Aretha Franklin, I Love Rock and Roll by Joan Jett, Proud Mary by Tina Turner, Jolene and I Will Always Love You by Dolly Parton, All The Single Ladies by Beyonce, Shake It Off by Taylor Swift, and Born This Way by Lady Gaga
Staff Includes:
Guard Instructor - Brandon Gray
Percussion Instructor - JJ Collister
Assistant - Wyatt Smith
Student Leadership:
Drum Major - Estrella Ramos
Executive Officer - Nick Rhodes
Judges for Today
General Effect: Dr. Shelly Axelson - Director of Bands at Radford University
Music: Mark Whitfield - Assistant Professor and Director of Athletic Bands at High Point University
Marching: TBD
Color Guard: Bethany Hajny - AIA and WGI Certified Judge and Founding Member of Star City Independent Winter Guard
Percussion: Chris McDilda - Cave Spring Middle School Band Director
Drum Major (Clinician): Denise Aspell - William Byrd Middle School Band Director
The Hungry Highlander Concessions
Hot Dogs...........................................$3.00
Chili/Cheese Dogs.............................$4.00
Hamburger........................................$5.00
Cheeseburger....................................$6.00
Nachos with Cheese..........................$4.00
Chili Nachos.......................................$5.00
Fiesta Fritos.......................................$4.00
Popcorn.............................................$1.00
Pretzel...............................................$4.00
Side of Cheese..........................$0.50
Side of Chili...............................$1.00
Chips.................................................$1.00
Bottled Water....................................$2.00
Bottled Soft Drinks............................$3.00
Options: Coke, Diet Coke, Dr. Pepper, Diet Dr. Pepper, Mountain Dew, and Sprite
Gatorade...........................................$4.00
Coffee...............................................$2.00
Candy................................................$3.00
Options: M&Ms, Peanut M&Ms, Reese's Cups, and Snickers
Cowtails.............................................$1.00
Popsicles...................................2 for $1.00
A big thank you to our sponsor Ace Hardware of Salem!!
We would like to extend a huge thank you to everyone who has contributed and helped out with this event:
GHS Principal: Dr. Corie Franklin
GHS Assistant Principals: Ms. Tammy O'Dom and Mr. Jason Murray
GHS Athletic Director: Mr. Andy Clapper
GMS Principal: Mr. Tyler Brown
GMS Assistant Principal: Mr. Josh Blevins
Custodial Staff: Mr. Mike Blankenship
Announcers: Mrs. Sarah Alford
Emergency services provided by AMR and The Roanoke County Police Department
The Countless Parents and Students representing the Glenvar Band Boosters
Marching Minutemen
From Liberty High School
Under the Direction of Peyton Gentry
Performing their 2026 Field Show Entitled:
Hero
Musical Selections Include:
Captain America March by Alan Silvestri, Lean on Me by Bill Withers, Keystone Chase by John Dywer, and Holding Out For A Hero by Bonnie Tyler
Staff Includes:
Assistant Director - Steve Williams
Color Guard Instructor - Derek Nellum
Woodwind Instructor - Riley Hamrick
Student Leadership:
Drum Major - Ella Bradford
Band President - Damon Carter
Brass Captains - Antonia Gonzales and Damon Carter
Woodwind Captains - Abby Purdham and Everest Arnold
Percussion Captains - Jake Russell and Rose Sitzler
Color Guard Captains - Rena Hardy and Caral Cottrell
Marching Hawks
From Gretna High School
Under the Direction of Allison Shelton
Performing their 2026 Field Show Entitled:
A Sky Full of Stars
Musical Selections Include:
Eine kleine Nachtmusik by Wolfgang A. Mozart, Stairway to Heaven by Led Zeppelin, and A Sky Full of Stars by Coldplay
Staff Includes:
Assistant Director - Kylee Pickeral
Percussion - DaVyon Christian
Percussion - Justin Sparrow
Color Guard - Zachariah Barnes Sr.
Student Leadership:
Drum Major - Riley Roland
Color Guard Captain - Hayley Chittum
Captain - Leah Taylor
Seniors - Jake Buck, Raven Creasy, Tyler Hall, and Star Lantz
The Eastern Montgomery Marching Band
From Eastern Montgomery High School
Under the Direction of Rachel Colby
Performing their 2026 Field Show Entitled:
Myths & Legends
Musical Selections Include:
Themes from How to Train Your Dragon, The Last Unicorn, and The Firebird
Staff Includes:
Color Guard Instructor - Dr. Hailey Larose
Percussion Instructor - Brenna Smith
Brass Instructor - Ayden Gravley
Student Leadership:
Drum Major - Misael Vela-Lopez
The Pride of Floyd County
From Floyd County High School
Under the Direction of Jeffery Gill
Performing their 2026 Field Show Entitled:
Artemis
Musical Selections Include:
Also Sprach Zarathustra
Staff Includes:
Brass and Drum Major Specialist - Maddie Townley
Woodwind Specialist - Bryan Dowd
Color Guard Specialist - Bethany Delp
Student Leadership:
Drum Major - Clementine Anderson
Woodwind Captain - Izzabel Beegle
Brass Captain - Pheonix Valentine
Percussion Captain - Sophie Williams
Color Guard Captain - Jamie Deremer
Nelson County Marching Governors
From Nelson County High School
Under the Direction of Robert Meeks
Performing their 2026 Field Show Entitled:
Luminescence: From Spark to Star
Musical Selections Include:
Dream On, Clair de Lune/Jupiter, and Sky Full of Stars
Staff Includes:
Assistant Director - Dupree Vest
Color Guard Instructor - April Aldridge
Student Leadership:
Drum Major - Ava Berry
Woodwind Captain - Hollin Eltzroth
Brass Captain - Jayna Birckhead
Percussion Captain - Skyler Little
Color Guard Captain - Guen Hernandez
Color Guard Co-Captain - Brenna McFadden
Flute Section Leader - Khloe Buckley
Clarinet Section Leader - Caroline Hatfield
Trumpet Section Leader - Sadie Perry
Trombone Section Leader - Corbin Miner
Tuba Section Leader - Aleah Garrett
Front Ensemble Section Leader - Mason Murphy
Trojan Vanguard
From Tunstall High School
Under the Direction of Malik Thornton
Performing their 2026 Field Show Entitled:
Prisoners of Time
Staff Includes:
Assistant Band Director - Kayla Stork
Percussion Instructors - Tim Bray, Alicia Bray, and Lauren Gosnell
Guard Instructor - Amy Bryan
Musical Selections Include:
Centuries by Fall Out Boy, Dies Irae from Verdi's Requiem, Time from Inception by Hans Zimmer, Enigma Variations by Edward Elgar, Running Up That Hill by Kate Bush, and Music Arranged by On The Field Music
Student Leadership:
Drum Major - Dakota Goodson
Field Commander - Jamel Claiborne
Marching/Visual/Drill Captain - Kathryn Roach
Woodwind Captains - Maddie Simmons, My'Ja Pacecho, and Eddie Sosa
Brass Captain - Adlin Torres
Percussion Captain - Shaniya Milner
Percussion Section Leader - Kaylee Kendrick
Guard Captain - BreAsia Wynn
Radford Regiment Marching Band
From Radford High School
Under the Direction of Layla Wilson
Performing their 2026 Field Show Entitled:
Midnight in Havana
Musical Selections Include:
Caliente by Gary P. Gilroy
Staff Includes:
Asst. Director - George Saunders
Color Guard - Ashlea Shockley
Percussion - Ian Epperly and Ben Harvey
Visual - Alex OBiso
Student Leadership:
High Brass Captain - Macy Sadler
Low Brass Captain - Levi Palmer
Woodwind Captain - Zach Gray
Drum Captains - Bea Holliman and Leah Woods
Front Ensemble Captain - Tai Lovik
Guard Captains - Natalie Greene, Rebekah Schindler, and Amelia Sullivan
Flute Section Leader - Libby Carchia
Clarinet Section Leader - Ryan Townes
Saxophone/Horn Section Leaders - Lily Francis and Caroline Gibbs
Trumpet Section Leader - Will Acosta
Low Brass Section Leader - Caleb Sams and Noah Morris
The Pride of Northside Marching Band
From Northside High School
Under the Direction of Tim Galyen
Performing their 2026 Field Show Entitled:
A Journey to Joy
Musical Selections Include:
In The End, Let It Be, Walking on Sunshine, Mr. Blue Sky, and Selections from Beethoven's 7th and 9th Symphonies
Staff Includes:
Assistant Directors - Kassidy Spencer and Maggie Painter
Color Guard Instructor - Matthew Cavendish
Percussion Instructor - Noah Sturgill
Student Leadership:
Drum Majors - Cadence Abelseth and Shane Hartman
Color Guard Captains - Rihanna Kellar and Kendall McKee
Drum Captains - Sami Clark and Colin McKnight
Woodwind Captain - Emily Knoblock
Brass Captain - Devon Ramsburg
Band President - Sami Clark
Marching Knights
From Cave Spring High School
Under the Direction of Reese Tunstall
Performing their 2026 Field Show Entitled:
CarnEVIL
Musical Selections Include:
Original Music by Matt Hightower, Josh Powell, and Jeremy Thompson
Staff Includes:
Color Guard Instructor - Madeline Walk
Percussion Instructor - Ethan Carroll
Student Leadership:
Drum Major - Katelyn Hinchy
Field Commander - Josh Hoffman
Captains - Emily Duffey, Lydia Ford, Bea Hutchens, Parker Lankford, Jack McNeil, Gabby Overstreet, and Lucy Phillips
Franklin County Marching Eagles
From Franklin County High School
Under the Direction of Adam Singer
Performing their 2026 Field Show Entitled:
As Seen on TV
Musical Selections Include:
20th Century Fox Theme, William Tell Overture, Over the Rainbow, and Rock Around the Clock
Staff Includes:
Percussion Instructors - Chelsea Singer and Tristen Bryant
Color Guard Instructor - Mei Campbell
Wind Instructor - Tristan Newman
Assistant Director - Owen Angell
Student Leadership:
Drum Majors - Teagan Bird and Sophia Rorrer
Flute Section Leader - Helena Longstreth
Clarinet Section Leader - Susannah Booth
Saxophone Section Leader - Christopher McGuire
Brass Co-Captains - Jenna Shipp and Natalie Ilconich
Front Section Leader - Ethan Drew
Drumline Section Leader - Aurelia Hylton
Color Guard Co-Captains - Isa Gutierrez and Elisa Acosta
Equipment Manager - Piper Ellis
Visual Team - Hollie Rolland and Camden Everitt
Librarian - Milany Huff-Stockton
Historian - Lyra Casey
Field Team - Johnny Albano
Prop Team - Dominic Bertier
Uniform Winds/Percussion Lead - Khloe Willard
Uniform Guard Lead - Suzi Waldron
Pit Crew - Isaac Rhodes
Clean Up Crew - Jared Horton
Medical Team - Ella Rorrer
Fundraising - Gage Keith
Attendance - Dakota Katsilianos
The Pride of Patrick County
From Patrick County High School
Under the Direction of Joseph Whitt
Performing their 2026 Field Show Entitled:
The Verne Chronicles
Musical Selections Include:
The Verne Chronicles by Joseph Whitt
Staff Includes:
Assistant Director - Victoria Whitt
Color Guard Director - Ashley Mullis
Percussion Instructors - Geona and Ananiah Jenkins
Student Leadership:
Band Captains - Willow Hylton, Riley Pruitt, and Jacob Edwards
Percussion Captains - Owen Jenkins, William Wood, and Joseph Turner
Color Guard Captains - Bristol Goad, Allison Justice, and Addison Justice
William Byrd High School Marching Terriers
From William Byrd High School
Under the Direction of Dan Plybon
Performing their 2026 Field Show Entitled:
The Power of One
Musical Selections Include:
One by Harry Nilsson and Three Dog Night, All By Myself by Eric Carmen, Piano Concerto No. 2, Mvt. 2 by Sergei Rachmaninov, Butterflies and Hurricanes by Muse
Staff Includes:
Assistant Director - Jordan Alvos
Color Guard Instructor - Jenny Swortzel
Percussion Instructor - Isaac Baldwin
Student Leadership:
Corps Commander - Ramsay Stephens
Drum Majors - Zane Telsch and Kyliegh Ginger
Brass Captain - Blair Godlesky
Woodwind Captain - Erica Barton
Percussion Captain - Noah Wheeler
Color Guard Captain - Kendel Perkins
