Supplied… Local cadet bands win the right to go onto the Provincial Band and Drill Competition at CFB Borden in two weeks. The Royal Sovereign Sea Cadets won top band in the Military Band category. The combined band of the 155 Borden Gray Air Cadet Sqn and the 2310 Army Cadet Corps won top band in the Pipe category. The Sea, Army and Air cadets bands are made up of 12 to 18 year old youth with some just in their first year of cadets while learning to play and memorize the music and then the movements required to perform in the competition.

The local cadet units where in North Bay this past weekend at the annual Northern Ontario Band and Drill Competition that saw 400 Sea, Army and Air cadets competing in the Drill With and Drill Without Arms competition on Saturday with the Bands performing on Sunday. Prior to the drill and band  performance each cadets uniform and appearance for proper hair cut etc. was judged with points deducted for deficiencies which reflected on their overall score.

Royal Sovereign also took first place in the drill without arms competition which saw them perform a compulsory component with orders from the drill commander and a silent drill component. They placed second in the Drill With Arms category.

Each band is required to perform a compulsory display which demonstrates their abilities to march in parade formation while playing marching music which is written so the other parade units stay in step. A march past, advance and general salute is marked on the bands drill, proper formation and that the music played of all of the instruments is marked for how it was performed by qualified music judges.

The second part that each band must perform is a free style. This is where a majority of the weekly band practices time is spent which is an extra to the regular weekly cadet training . Each band member is required to move in choreographed synchronization around the parade square while playing their memorized music. The concentration is visible on their faces. One wrong step or move in the wrong direction can place the performer in the wrong spot or in a collision with another cadet.

The combined 155/2310 Pipe Band had to perform the two parts of the band display as well. For the free style portion the extra visual attraction was the highland dancers that where dancing around the pipers and drummers. This involves a weekly practice for the dancers at the MacLeod Highland Dance Studio.

Royal Sovereign Sea Cadets preformed in the Military Band Category where they displayed their abilities to march in parade formation while playing marching music which keeps the others parade units in step.

Chief Petty Officer 2nd Class Roger Moss won Top Military Band Major and F/Sgt. Chris Seymour won Top Pipe Band Major. Each are judge throughout the band performance on their ability to lead the band around the parade square, communication to the band through the use of the mace for the band to make change direction and stop playing.