Cayo Cleans Up at Band Fest

Congratulations to the Benque Marching Band for winning 1st place at Band Fest. Band Fest was yesterday in Corozal, and Cayo really cleaned up. The SISE Dreams took 3rd place in the marching band category. The Belmopan Active Youths took 1st place for Drum Corps.

The Ricalde Stadium in Corozal town was the venue today for the annual Belize Band Fest.

The event brought together marching bands from around the country to perform in different categories and included "show" bands that present particular pieces for the enjoyment of the crowd.

The day's even started with a street parade, giving thousands of people who lined the main streets of Corozal town, an opportuity to witness the beauty and sounds of the young people.

At the end of the event, St. Luke "Purple Spirit" marching band won the Drumline competition.

In the Drum Corps category, the champion is the Belmopan Active Youth group. They took home $4,000 and a trophy.

Second place was won by the Holy Redeemer Marching band.

Coming in third was the St. Luke marching band.

In the Marching Band with Wind Instrumet category, Benque Viejo Marching Band walked away with first prize, taking home $6,000, a tropy and medals.

Second place in this category was won by the Corozal Community College marching band while the San Ignacio/Santa Elena Dreams Marching Band captured third prize.

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The streets of Corozal were filled with Band Fest fans anxiously waiting who would take the 2014 1st place trophies. On Saturday April 12th, a total of nine marching bands including several drum corp groups were heavily applauded, ...as they entertained us gracefully. After a street parade pre-judging, they headed to the Santiago Ricalde Stadium where the kick-off competition and final judging took place.

This year's participating groups included Corozal Community College Marching Band - Corozal, Uprising Drum Corp - Orange Walk, Belmopan Active Youth - Belmopan, Dream Marching Band - Santa Elena & San Ignacio, Benque Marching Band - Benque Viejo, Stella Maris School Futuristic Marching Band - Belize City, St. Luke's Purple Spirit Marching Band - Belize City, Holy Redeemer Primary School - Belize City, Central Drum Corp - Orange Walk. Special invited guest were Banda Del Instituto Bethel - La Cieba, Honduras, and Othon P. Blanco, Chetumal's Marching Band.

Guest speaker at the commencement ceremonies was Governor General of Belize, His Excellency Sir Colville Young. Mr. Rene Villanueva, CEO of LOVE FM and organizer, made the closing remarks and each participant thereafter was given 15 minutes to perform for final judging. We must say it was an entertaining and spectacular event.

Judging went on until the last band presented its group at around 4:30 p.m. Both the Marching Band and Drum Corp competition were very tight and entertaining.

The Corozal Daily wishes to express its sincere gratitude and best wishes to all the organizers, especially everyone at LOVE FM, for bringing this Belizean hallmark once again to our doorsteps. We welcome this event anytime.

Special thanks to the Corozal Police Formation, SAT Team, Red Cross, Corozal Town Council & Corozal Traffic Department for keeping us safe.

Moving on to the end of the Band Fest, master of ceremony made the announcement of the winners in the following categories:

Winners of the 2014 Marching Band Fest -

1st place Marching Band $6,000 and Trophy - Benque Viejo Marching Band - Benque Viejo
2nd place Marching Band $2,000 and a Trophy - Corozal Community College Marching Band - Corozal
3rd place Marching Band $1,000 - Dreams Marching Band - Santa Elena & San Ignacio Dreams

Winners of other categories:

�Best Choreography - Belmopan Active Youth Band
�Most Improved Band - Benque Viejo Marching Band (They performed 2nd last year)
�Drum Corp Champion $1,000 and a Trophy - St. Luke's Purple Spirit Marching band - Bze City
�Text- in most Popular Band $1,000 and a Trophy - Corozal Community College Marching Band - Corozal
�1st Place Drum Corp $4,000 - Belmopan Active Youth ( making their way from 2nd place last year to 1st) - Belmopan
�2nd Place Drum Corp $2,000 - Holy Redeemer Marching Band - Bze City
�3rd place Drum Chores Division $2,000 and a Trophy - St. Luke's Purple Spirit Marching Band - Bze City
Award and Certificate's:
�Senior Superintendent Joseph Myvett - Northern Regional Police Department
�Superintendent Andrew Martinez - Corozal Police Formation
�Deputy Arnold Martinez - Corozal Police Formation
�Asst. Superintendent Daniel Arzu - Police Formation
�Deputy Alice Mclaughlin - Corozal Police Formation
�Red Cross
�Belize Defense Force
�Corozal Traffic Department
�Mayor Kevin Bernard - Orange Walk
�Mayor Hilberto Campos - Corozal
�Governor General of Belize His Execellency Dr. Colville Young
Other Certificate's and Awards:
�Oceana
� Belize Electricity Limited
�Benny's
� Minister of Youth and Sports, Minister Herman Longsworth
� Bowen and Bowen
�Galen University
� Motor Solution Limited
�NICH - Sports Award
� Belize Natural Energy - Sports Award
�Scotia Bank
�Embassy of Taiwan

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