The South Hagerstown High School principal and band director refused Wednesday to explain why a decision was made to have the band skip performing at Friday's annual football game between the school and its crosstown rival, North Hagerstown High School.
The decision for the South High band not to play occurred at the school level, South High Principal Richard Akers said. The school is not required to have the band play at the game, he said.
"We had an internal issue we had to take care of," Akers said. He refused to elaborate.
Band Director Katherine Seman called it an "internal matter" and would not elaborate.
North High Principal Robert "Bo" Myers said it was the first time in at least 12 years that both school bands didn't play at the North High-South High game.
"It was unusual that they did not perform," Myers said.
Myers and Akers said that typically one school's band will play before the game and the other school's band will play at halftime. Myers said both bands also normally play in the stands.
