Tournament of Champions
to join band by his sister who played at Houston High School.
"She would always come home and tell me about the fun things she did and how the band was family-oriented," he said. "It feels like brothers and sisters."
Saxophonist David Johnson joined band in sixth grade after multiple moves and new schools. He noticed the camaraderie among the students in the band, who would walk together with their instruments.
"I didn't know anyone and I saw these band kids walk by," he said. "I saw how they were together."
Makenna got her start in band initially wanting to play clarinet.
"I picked it up and couldn't make a sound on it," she said. "Then I played a French horn and the director said, 'You're the first person to make a noise on that instrument.' I've been doing it since then."
Inaugural competition
The Collierville band's competition season begins at the end of this month, and the group's boosters are preparing to host the high school's first marching band competition.
The competition, called the Tournament of Champions, is slated to be held at the high school's new 5,000-seat stadium at Shelby Drive and Sycamore Road. Football games are currently played at the Herman Osteen Field at Collierville Elementary School, but the new Dragon Stadium at the multimillion-dollar high school campus is scheduled to be open for the homecoming game Sept. 21.
The competition Sept. 29 is expected to draw marching bands from around Western Tennessee as well as nationally known judges.
The Collierville students will travel to cities such as Jacksonville, Alabama, and St. Louis to compete this fall.
"In only one year, Mr. Barnes has made huge strides in turning our band around," said Donna Nelson, whose twin boys, Connor and Cooper, are sophomore band members. "He and his newly hired staff and numerous volunteers are well on their way to making the Pride of Collierville Marching Band become a high-class competitor on a national level at the Bands of America circuit. The band is now a force to be reckoned with among Western, if not all of Tennessee schools."