Warriors open the season with impressive showing at Colleton County  Classic

The Wando High School Marching Band opened their 2009 competitive season with an impressive win at the Colleton County Band Classic. The band won awards for best Drum Majors, Best Drum Line, Best Color Guard and High Music Score.
The band's 2009 show, "BEYOND," is inspired by a series of paintings by Spanish artist Juan Miro. "Awakening the Dawn", one of Miro's Constellation series, is the primary source of the band's visual and thematic motif. The painting literally comes alive thru the movements of this ambitious project.
With sculptural glyphs rising up to 12 feet above the field and over 200 members lying on the ground looking up into the cosmos, the band immediately creates a mood symbolic of man's fascination with the stars. There is an element of intrigue and wonder as the students portray man's experience of chasing comets, of meteor showers and a moment of suspended animation and weightlessness.
The power of the show was evident as the Wando Band secured its first victory of the season with only a partial performance. Yet to be seen are the last two movements of BEYOND, one of which will be debuted at this weekend's Lowcountry Invitational.
The band has always been known for its playing ability and this show is no exception. The 2009 repertoire includes music by Alan Silvestri and Jay Bocook.
"The band students did a wonderful job this past weekend and we are really proud of their efforts," said Scott Rush, director of Bands. "We hope to see everyone at the Lowcoun-try Invitational this weekend."
Lowcountry Invitational
The Lowcountry March-ng Invitational will be held this Saturday at the Wando High School Sta-dium (old campus off Mathis Ferry Road). Everyone is invited to the competition between high school bands from 1A to 5A status.
There will be plenty of concessions throughout the day. Gates open at 2 p.m.  Tickets are $8 for adults.  Students 17 and under get in for $5.
Children under 4 are admitted free.
Schedule of Bands
Class A
•Bamberg-Ehrhardt HS - 3:30 p.m.  
•Chesnee HS - 3:45 p.m.
•Andrew Jackson HS - 4:00 p.m.
Class AA
•Garrett Acad. HS - 4:30 p.m.
•Stall HS - 4:45 p.m.
•Ashley Ridge HS - 5 p.m.
•Hanahan HS- 5:15 p.m.
Class AAA
•Socastee HS - 5:45 p.m.
•St. James HS - 6 p.m.
•Goose Creek HS - 6:15 p.m.
Class AAAA
•Fort Dorchester - 7:15 p.m.
•Effingham Cty. HS - 7:30 p.m.
•James Island HS - 7:45 p.m.
•West Ashley HS - 8 p.m.
Class AAAAA
•Stratford HS - 8:30 p.m.
•Colleton County HS - 8:45 PM
•Summerville HS - 9 p.m.
Exhibition
•Wando - 9:15 p.m.

Photo by Vickey Boyd/Moultrie News
The Wando Band walked away with top honors at the Walterboro Classic Competition last weekend.On Saturday, the Lowcountry Invitational will take place at Wando High School Stadium. To view more photos from the competition, visit www.moultrienews.com.