Warhorse Regiment sets the tone with top performance Land of the Sky Marching Band Festival
Owen takes first place in four of five categories a regional competition
Fred McCormick
The Valley Echo
September 28, 2026
Representing Owen High School, the Warhorse Regiment won first place in four of five categories, Sept. 26, at the 52nd Annual Land of the Sky Marching Band Festival, hosted by Enka. Courtesy photo
“The Pride of the Valley” was on full display, Sept. 26, as programs from across the region descended upon Enka High School Stadium for the 52nd Annual Land of the Sky Marching Band Festival.
Representing Owen High School, the Warhorse Regiment concluded the showcase winning first place in four of five categories, including Overall 1A.
Nearly 30 marching bands representing schools from western N.C., upstate S.C., eastern Tennessee and north Georgia competed in the festival, which marked the first tournament of the season for Owen. The performance by the Warhorse Regiment, titled “Colors of Spain,” explores the vibrant and passionate culture of country, from the running of the bulls in Pamplona, to the beautiful flamenco dance and even the legendary arena of the bull fight.
The piece was introduced to the ensemble last spring, according to Owen Band Director Adam Kallestad, in his second year in the position.
“That worked out well for us, considering Spain won the World Cup this year, which was a nice little bonus,” the director said. “Since first presenting them with the show, we have been rehearsing twice a week, every Tuesday and Thursday, for three hours.”
Practice often focuses on fundamental skills, according to Kallestad, centering tone quality, blending and balancing of the piece. The 38-member marching band is “small but mighty,” according to the director, whose staff includes color guard instructor BJ Harden Jones; percussion instructors Isaiah Cedillo and Chris Bradford; middle school band director Trey Simpson and assistant Rosa Lee Harden.
“I don’t really look at the size of the band as something that limits us,” Kallestad said. “The most important thing we teach here is that we are limitless, and that’s because of the way we work together. There are so many musical lessons they learn here, but really this is about teaching kids how to be better versions of themselves, while working with other people.”
Thirty-eight Owen High and Middle School students comprise the Warhorse Regiment Marching Band, which finished first in the Overall 1A category, Sept. 26, in the Land of the Sky Marching Band Festival. Photo by Fred McCormick
The Land of the Sky Festival allowed the Warhorse Regiment an opportunity to debut its 2026 show, featuring a variety of musical selections representing Spanish culture, to the wider WNC community. The Owen band earned first place in categories of drum major, percussion and music, and second in color guard.
The tournament was a valuable learning experience for the ensemble, which features a majority of freshmen and eighth grade band students from Owen Middle School.
“There is this internal aspect of performance pressure and learning how to relax with those higher stakes,” Kallestad said. “I was super proud of them, but I also heard and saw things I had never heard from them before. There was some performance anxiety, but now they know exactly what to expect.”
While the Warhorse Regiment earned multiple trophies in the competition, the director and his team identified areas for improvement before the Cedar Cliffs Classic Tournament, Saturday, Oct. 10, at A.C. Reynolds High School.
“We’re doing all the right things. This is a very coachable group that works incredibly hard, and they trust themselves, and us,” Kallestad said. “A lot of the band is really punching above its weight class. I’m very proud of our color guard, because four of the six members are in the eighth grade.”
The high school director credits his relationship with his middle school counterpart, Simpson, for growing the local band community.
Adam Kallestad, left, joins members of the Warhorse Regiment, Sept. 26, as the program celebrates four top finishes in the Land of the Sky Marching Band Festival, hosted by Enka High School. Courtesy photo
“I think it’s really important to start building those connections early,” Kallestad said. “I go down there everyday to help Trey, who is a fantastic middle school director, with his sixth-grade band. That relationship allows us to let the eighth graders who are interested join the band, and I’ve seen so much growth from those students already.”
The young influx of talented instrumentalists and performers strengthens the foundation of the Owen Marching Band, which, last spring, earned a superior rating at the music performance adjudication.
“It’s a really good sign they were able to do so well in their first competition,” Kallestad said. “The second and third ones get a little more serious across the board. Given the culture of this band, I don’t think they will get cocky, because they understand there is so much work left to do.”
Elevating the program and guiding the students who represent the Pride of the Valley requires a “community effort,” the director added.
“Our staff is filled with really great people who are passionate about this band and provide great instruction for these students,” Kallestad said. “It’s a very local effort, which is something we’re all proud of.”