Wayne County Fair: Celebrating high school marching bands in annual joint concert

WOOSTER − Veronica Burkey bobbed back and forth in time to the Chippewa High School Marching Band's rendition of "Kings & Queens" by Ava Max at the Wayne County Fair's Monday band performance.

While the horns blared, Burkey walked down the few stairs from the stadium bleachers to the pitch for a better angle of her daughter, Samantha Burkey, president of the school color guard.

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Veronica Burkey said it was her daughter's last year in high school, so she wanted to record every second of the performance.

"It's so awesome because she didn't drop the rifle once," said Burkey. "This is also her first year with the rifle, so I think she's doing a very good job."

While her daughter tossed, flung and twirled flags, batons and a fake rifle, the band stood atop a stage behind her for hundreds of onlookers.

Chippewa High School was the second of 10 Wayne County high school bands that took the stage Monday morning as part of a yearly fair tradition that celebrates local marching bands.

Two hours of concerts

Orrville High School kicked the morning off with the "Star Spangled Banner" followed by four songs: "Shut up and Dance," "Twist and Shout," "Dancing Queen" and "I Wanna Dance with Somebody."

Each school played three to four songs in a 15-minute concert plus one final fight song heard at sporting events.

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Songs ranged from classics like "Carry on Wayward Son" by Kansas to modern hits like the Fitz and the Tantrums' "Hand Clap" and combinations of centuries-old music from Ludwig van Beethoven.

In total, nearly 600 students performed Monday morning, according to one announcer present at the event.

For many students like Burkey's daughter, the 15-minute performance was the result of weeks of practice.

Turning a fair tradition into a family tradition

Brian Kenner sat in the first row of bleachers with his arms up on his walker, enjoying the music, while his sister's family sat a few feet in front of him.

For Kenner, there are many reasons to visit the fair every year, but the band performance is probably his favorite.

"I love to see how they progress and to see all the people who come out," said Kenner, who has visited the fair for 13 or 14 straight years. "It's just so nice to see people coming out, especially after COVID."

Nearly halfway through the performances, he said his favorite was the Rittman Marching Band, which played songs like "Accidentally in Love," "We're Not Gonna Take It" and "Hand Clap."

For him, it was their style and renditions. For "Hand Clap," they laid down their instruments and clapped and danced to a solo of drums while portions of the score were composed by students.

"But Wooster always comes out every year and blows everyone out of the water," he said with a grin. "Until then, Rittman is my favorite."

As for his extended family, they preferred Orrville's performance as they are residents of the city.

At the end of the day, he said, it doesn't entirely matter who sounds the best, so long as everyone enjoys the day.

This article originally appeared on The Daily Record: 2022 Wayne County Fair jams with high school marching bands show