Countdown to the Battle of the High-Stepping Marching Bands

Each Fall, Durham has the honor of hosting the Official High School Battle of the Bands. Not your ordinary battle of the bands, this annual event features the top high-stepping marching bands in the Southeast.

Mastermind and founder, Adrian Carroll conceived of the High School Battle of the Bands as a means to promote music education and academic excellence in minority and urban school districts. The event also provides a venue for band programs to be evaluated by prominent college band directors and adjudicators.

The event draws talent from all over the region. This year, however, the Battle of the Bands welcomes one of the largest, most coveted bands on the competition circuit, the Southwest DeKalb High School Marching Panthers of Atlanta, GA. Widely respected as one of the top programs in the country, Southwest DeKalb is best known from the movie Drumline.

For those unfamiliar with the history of the High School Battle of the Bands and the tradition of high-stepping marching bands, Adrian Carroll produced an original film on the topics. A Cadence Unheard will air on Sunday, October 9th on Fox 50. For a sneak preview, click here to view the trailer for A Cadence Unheard.


The Adrian Carroll Official High School Battle of the Bands will take place at 4pm on Sunday, October 16th on the Campus of North Carolina Central University at the O'Kelley-Riddick Football Stadium.

Now in its 9th year, the Official High School Battle of the Bands has partnered with the NC Triangle Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Proceeds from the event will go to breast cancer awareness. Tickets for the event are currently available for purchase.