Story & Photos by Zach Hester, Reporter • zach@southerntorch.com

PHOTO (Pictured L to R): Geraldine students Cleo Salazar, Maegan Womack, Fyffe Band Director Bo Esposite, Sylvania Band Director Patrick Roszell, Geraldine Band Director Lauren Lingerfelt Roszell, Ider Band Director Brandon Terrell, State Representative Kerry Rich, StateFarm Agents David Majors and Felicia Mitchell, Geraldine students Kalee Kuykendall and Kylee Kuykendall, and Geraldine High School Principal Jason Mayfield.

DeKALB COUNTY, Ala. — For the first time, several DeKalb County bands are uniting for a performance outside of the county. 

Students representing the Crossville (25 students), Fyffe (18), Geraldine (18), Ider (23), Plainview (23), and Sylvania (13) bands will combine forces for a special trip to Montgomery to perform as part of the Alabama Bicentennial Celebration. The band will march in the Bicentennial Parade on Saturday, December 14. 

“We are so excited to be able to be coming together and forming a mass band. It shows the building up of and the unity of the DeKalb County bands,” said Ider Band Director Brandon Terrell.

The DeKalb County band will be performing an arrangement by Sylvania Band Director Patrick Roszell. 

Last week, State Farm generously donated $2,500 towards the band’s overnight trip to the state capital. 

“We are looking forward to the opportunity to highlight the band programs of the DeKalb County School System and giving these students this much-deserved honor,” said Geraldine Band Director Lauren Lingerfelt Roszell. “We are especially grateful for the support of our many sponsors for making this possible.” 

The Bicentennial Parade will begin at 10am on December 14. For more information, please visit alabama200.org.