SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- High School Bands battle it out in the New York State Field Band Conference Championships. Fifty-three bands from throughout the state competed in six different divisions Sunday in the Carrier Dome.
Central New York and Southern Tier schools made a strong showing. West Genesee won in National Class. New Hartford took first place in the Small School 1 Division, and Central Square repeated in the Large School 2 division, taking home the Governors Cup for the second year in a row.
The New York State Field Band Conference Championships draws thousands of people to the Carrier Dome each Fall.This year, 53 bands from across the state competed. Photojournalist Jim McCann gives us an up close and personal look at the excitement and intensity involved in this event.
Redhawks Drum Major Don Tyson says it's an amazing feeling, "You kind of go numb, you sit there and you're waiting for your name to called and you just don't feel anything and then you hear your name and then all the feeling rushes back to your head all at once and it’s just mind numbing after that."
Horseheads finished second to Central Square, but the Blue Raiders were still very pleased with their accomplishment. Drum Major Colin Smith says, “It’s not so much about placement as it is having a successful final show and I think we did that this year.”
Wellsville won the Small School 3 division, with Johnson City finishing second. For all of the results from Sunday's competition visit nysfbc.org.