East Tennessee State University will host one of the prestigious Bands of America regional championships, an honor enjoyed by only a select few locations across the United States.  

The event will take place on Saturday, Oct. 19, at the Ballad Health Athletic Center, formerly known as the Mini-Dome. The ticket office opens at 7 a.m., and the performance kicks off at 8 a.m. with South Forsyth High School from Georgia.  

“We are thrilled to host this event and meet the many talented students participating,” said Dr. Joe Moore, director of athletic bands and an associate professor in the Department of Music at ETSU. “It is difficult to overstate what an honor this is, and especially what it means for the community and the region.”  

High school bands from across the nation will compete throughout the day. Local interest includes performances by Science Hill at 10:30 a.m., Elizabethton at 10:45 a.m., and Dobyns-Bennett at 4:15 p.m.  

The ETSU Marching Bucs will perform an exhibition at 4:30 p.m. The ETSU Marching Bucs continue to gear up for their upcoming performance at the iconic Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Learn more about their journey at etsu.edu/bucsonparade.  

Tickets for Bands of America are available for purchase online or at the door.  

For more information, contact the Department of Music at (423) 439-4276 or music@etsu.edu.   

For disability accommodations, contact the ETSU Office of Disability Services at (423) 439-8346. 

Officials encourage those attending to monitor this site as some bands located in areas devastated by Hurricane Helene may be delayed or unable to attend. Performance times may also be adjusted.  

East Tennessee State University was founded in 1911 with a singular mission: to improve the quality of life for people in the region and beyond. Through its world-class health sciences programs and interprofessional approach to health care education, ETSU is a highly respected leader in rural health research and practices. The university also boasts nationally ranked programs in the arts, technology, computing, and media studies. ETSU serves approximately 14,000 students each year and is ranked among the top 10 percent of colleges in the nation for students graduating with the least amount of debt.

Browse Related Stories

Stay in Touch

Follow ETSU on Social