Area marching bands earn honors in competition

SOUTH BERWICK — Two area bands competed over the weekend in the 26th Annual Marching Band Finals held at Marshwood High School in South Berwick.

Edward Little High School in Auburn and Leavitt High School in Turner both received silver medals in the Saturday competition, which featured 13 bands from central and southern Maine, as well as coastal New Hampshire. The competition is sponsored by the Maine Band Directors Association.

Judges evaluated each marching band's performance and rated them in the areas of drum major, color guard, visual, percussion, music and general effect. Bands also received an overall medal rating of merit, bronze, silver or gold. Edward Little and Leavitt also earned four stars each in the drum major category.

Gold medal winners included Dover, Salem and South Portland high schools.