The 2024 HHS Band had a huge opportunity to go to Talladega on October 6th. Talladega is a super speedway racetrack in Alabama. It is 2.66 miles long, or 4.28km, and has hosted racing events since 1969. You may recognize the name from Ricky Bobby’s movie, “Talladega Nights.” The Heritage High School Band performed on the green between Pitt Road and the Grandstands.
Mr. Wynne, the band director at the Heritage High School, led the band in the performance at Talladega. Mr. Wynne’s favorite moment during Talladega was when they first pulled into the inside of the racetrack and watched how “all the students and parents realize just how huge a NASCAR track really is.” Mr. Wynne believed all the students did great, despite the hot and draining performance, and believes the NASCAR audience received the performance amazingly. He would rate it a 9.5/10 and thinks that he would love to do it again, and recommends other bands to take the chance if they have it.
Sophomore Talon Smith, a student that performed at Talladega, says that his favorite moment was “when we first got there and saw how the race cars actually were, and how loud they actually are.” Smith believed the performance went well and sounded good. He would rate the experience an 8/10, and also believes he would do it again.
