Mackenzie Turner

Mackenzie Turner is a senior at LaRue County High school. She loves to boutique shop, hunt, fish, and she loves to spend time with her friends and family. Today is a perfect day to be happy. - Unknown.

For the LaRue County Band of Hawks, the road to State consists of many rigorous practices and lengthy competitions. The LaRue County Band is made up of sixty students including Freshman, Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors. For the senior class of two thousand and eighteen, going to State and placing was an immense deal that was at the top of their list.

Before even beginning competitions, the entire band began participating in their summer practices. The practices began during the early month of July, which was the last month of summer break for the Band of Hawk members. The practices began as Pre Camp which was the second week of July. This lasted from eight in the morning until two that afternoon. During the third of week of July band Camp lasted from eight that morning until four-thirty that night. Lastly, during the fourth week practice was from twelve until nine that night. According to Senior band member, Ally Rae Milford, “ Each outdoor practice began with stretching and a Indian run, then we would do something called FUN (fundamental) block followed by practice of our show.” The outdoor practices were usually in the summer heat with the sun beaming down on each band member as they practiced all day long. Sometimes the practices would be moved inside where they would do a full band warm up, break into sectionals to work on their own music and meet as a full band once again to practice for their show.

The LaRue County Band of Hawks performance for this year was called 50/50. The show consisted of colors; orange, black and white. Once the band members hit the field, they were split into two sides. One side of the field is considered the dark side while the other is light. In the show it seemed as one side of the field played darker music while the other side played lighter music that showed a sense of calmness rather than craziness..

Semi Finals for the Band of Hawks was located at Elizabethtown High School where they competed against many other talented bands in their class. LaRue County Band of Hawks placed second at the KMEA Class AA semifinals where they also earned a spot to compete at the state Finals at the Papa John Stadium the same day. Senior, Mackenzie Turner, was at the competition watching her friends compete, she stated, “ Watching my friends and hearing the Band being placed was such as surreal feeling not for me, but for them.”  Once the Band placed in Semifinals they knew it was time to get on the road and travel to State Finals. This show not only lead them to Semifinals, but also a place at the State Finals in Papa John’s Stadium

At State Finals, the LaRue County Band of Hawks competed and placed third overall in their class. Placing at State made this their first appearance to State since 2012. Senior and Band of Hawk member, Kirsten Cohen stated, “ I was happy that we made it to State. I cried for a good two hours, but it was bittersweet in the end because i knew that was my last performance.”

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