View and purchase photos from the Showcase of Bands
View the "Showcase of bands" slideshow
HAGERSTOWN -- In a matter of hours Tuesday evening, fans at School Stadium weathered a hurricane, climbed Mount Everest and journeyed through Tolkien's Middle Earth -- all through the power of music.
The themed musical productions were part of this year's Showcase of Marching Bands, a noncompetitive performance featuring all seven of Washington County's high school marching bands and a combined performance of "God Bless America." The annual showcase is an opportunity for students to perform in front of their families and friends without the stress of competition, but students said the showcase brings a pressure of its own.
"It means more than any competition, because your parents come out to see you, it's on TV, the other bands look at it and they get to see how far you've come," said Williamsport High School senior Amanda Tribett, 17, section leader for the Blue Band's color guard.