After impressing the judges with their preliminary round performances, it was on to the finals for the Anderson Marching Highlanders and the Frankton-Lapel marching band Friday at Indiana State Fair Band Day.
Anderson and Frankton-Lapel achieved second and eighth place, respectively, following the evening finals program.
The Marching Highlanders have been among the state’s top bands all season long, starting with a July 18 competition in Crawfordsville in which they came in first, followed by a third place showing during the Muncie Spirit of Sound Contest.
Anderson fell just short of its eighth state championship.
This was Anderson’s 68th year competing at Band Day. The Marching Highlanders have appeared at the state fair more than any band in the state.
Anderson placed fifth last year. Its most recent title came in 2019.
Anderson’s show, “Sea of Scots,” was based on the video game “Sea of Thieves,” in which the players act as pirates traversing the high seas in search of treasure. The show began with a search for a map and ended in a fight with the undead.
Director Richard Geisler considered the group’s preliminary performance to be one of its best.
“I think it was our best run of the season,” Geisler said.
This article appeared in The Herald Bulletin.