-Rock City Classic: Battle of the Bands Tri-Dome

Dynamite Rays Prep for the Battle

It’s almost that time of year again when St. Thomas’ two rival high school marching bands battle it out to see who will rise to the top.

March 31, 2012 will be the Rock City Classic: Battle of the Bands Tri-Dome, and the Ivanna Eudora Kean’s Dynamite Rays Marching Band and the Charlotte Amalie High School’s Marching Hawks will take the court once again.

The event has become known as “one of the biggest events on Rock City since Carnival,” said one Charlotte Amalie High School junior. For the past two years, thousands of people have came out to support the high schools.

Khadijah Estrill, a junior attending the Ivanna Eudora Kean High School, said, “I’m very excited and I can’t wait to see what the band has in store this year!”

After two years of defeats, the Ivanna Eudora Kean High School is even more determined to see the Rays take home the overall trophy this year. “I will be very disappointed and upset if we lose this year,” said Estrill.

The band students are also very excited. TeQuan Maduro, one of the drum majors said, “They cheated us last year, and we are NOT bringing last year back! We are going hard or going home."

Kordell Robb, another drum major said, “I think the band has grown and is working on being prepared for the event and will be coming with full force, holding nothing back.”

However, many Chicken Hawks see another victory in their future. One Charlotte Amalie High School alumni said, "Chicken Hawks do everything the best. The Rays are like a four-day-old piece of dumb bread; dry, dread, and dense. Not even yeast can make them rise, and that's the truth."

Anxious fans await as the clock winds down. Come out and support the bands on March 31 at 4 p.m. at the UVI Sports and Fitness Center. Tickets are now on sale: $7 for children over 5; $10 for students with I.D.’s; and $15 for adults.

Editor’s Note: See related stories about last year’s competition and this year’s band under News and Features and in the archives. (Find them by using the navigation bar on the left side of the home page.)