The Bearden marching band heads off to their first band competition of the season this weekend with a new musical aspect – electric guitar.
Senior Bradley Witzel will play an electric guitar solo in their 2024 competition show, and band directors Mrs. Megan Christian and Mr. Jamie Wilson have been thrilled with the results.
“We are at the height of band competition season,” Mrs. Christian said. “Mr. Wilson had inspiration for adding an electric guitar to the band. We have really enjoyed getting to work with Bradley and being able to add a new, fun sound this year.”
This weekend’s competition is at Clinton High School, and the band will perform the first and second movements from their show.
Witzel is in his first year in band and has a love and passion for the guitar. He has not always been in the band, but is ready to take on the challenge of having a significant role in their performance.
Witzel took Mr. Wilson’s AP Music Theory class last year.
“He saw me play with the Knoxville Jazz Youth Orchestra and asked me if I wanted to join the band,” Witzel said. “It was originally written as a percussion solo, so anyone in the front line could have played that part, but they gave it to me because it is a standout moment and my instrument is not typical for [marching] band.”