Last month, the commons held one of the most important and eagerly anticipated events of the entire year. This year’s Chili Cook-off was held by the Central Band’s Booster group, and featured a full-length concert performance after the competition was held.
This year, a few notable attendees were able to judge the different chilis, including the University of Tennessee’s Drum Major and Assistant Drum Major, Julia Boyle and Reed McAmis. Other judges included retired Knoxville Fire Department Captain DJ Corcoran and Assistant Chief of Rescue and EMT Justin Faulkner.
A silent auction was also held. Items included a Patricia Nash purse, a tailgate grill and a basketball autographed by Holly Warlock. Gift cards from Bliss, Chick-fil-A, Hard Knox Pizza and Firehouse Subs were also available. Cookies, brownies and other treats (pictured left) were brought in by parents.
The event is vital to the CHS Band’s fundraising efforts, as planning the marching band’s fall 2022 show cannot be fully completed until the directors have a good feel for the budget. One of the band’s sought after items for the next show is a fully wireless PA system, which would allow them to more efficiently use the metronome during band camp and practice times. Normally, a student or parent is pulled and the reliability of the current system is sketchy.
The band’s concert performance after the competition included the three pieces of music. The chili dinner is a great way for parents to hear the hard work their students have been putting in, and a way for the students to have a practice run of the concert before their competitive performance the following day. On Wednesday, only three days after this dinner, the band performed two of these pieces at Maryville College’s Band Festival, earning near perfect scores in the performance category, and a perfect score in sight reading.
The funds earned at the chili dinner are sure to help the band in their next chapter of marching season in the coming fall.
Read more from The Bobcat Times:
The Bobcat Times 