The Scotland High School Bands were on the road in Dunn, NC late Thursday afternoon following the SHS Symphonic Band's performance at the Southeastern District Bandmasters Association State Concert Festival at West Johnston High School in Benson.

With the Symphonic Band's performance, the Freshman Band's performance on Friday at the same event and today's Tartan Festival winter guard competition, which is hosted at the high school, this has been an action packed week for the high school based performing arts groups.

"The symphonic band played today, and received an overall rating of 'superior'. I had a rare opportunity to talk with the judges afterward, and they were very complimentary of the band's performance," said SHS Bands Director Doerffel.

According to Doerffel, the judges' standards have been unusually high at the event, and the 'superior' rating was not given lightly.

"I was very pleased. (The symponic band) has the potential to play very well and they were able to put together a very good performance at the right time and place."

The weekend's Tartan Festival, which begins today at 2:30 p.m. in the Scotland High School gym, will feature 29 units competing in classifications from beginner all the way up to the advanced "Independent World Class" winter guard practitioners.

"They are some of the most advanced performers in the activity ... and most of what they do defies imagination," said Doerffel.

"You will find that you are constantly asking yourself, 'How in the world did they just do that?'."

Admission to the event will cost six dollars, and profits will benefit the Scotland Winter Guard.

All three of Scotland Winter Guard's groups will be participating, and unlike the marching band's performances which have been hosted at Scotland High School, the Tartan Festival will see the local groups in competition.

The Cadet group (comprised of middle school students), the Prep group (made up of beginners) and the Scotland High School Winter Guard group are the three competing groups.

For all three groups the Tartan Festival will represent the final "regional" event of their season, meaning that it will be their last opportunity to improve standing ahead of seeding for upcoming championship contests.

Tartan Festival results will be announced in an awards ceremony beginning at 7:30 p.m.