DALLAS, Jan. 2, 2008 — High school bands from Florida, Indiana, Louisiana, and South Dakota took home top honors in a Texas-style showdown at the 2007/2008 AT&T Cotton Bowl National Musical Festival, Dec. 30, 2007, through Jan.1, 2008, in Dallas. Northshore High School from Slidell, La. claimed the grand champion title in the field show competition, and Rocky Bayou Christian High School from Niceville, Fla. took home championship trophies for best concert band and best jazz band. Additionally, Eastern High School from Greentown, Ind. won best marching percussion as well as best indoor guard, while Brookings High School from Brookings, SD took home top honors in the Comerica Bank New Year’s Parade.

More than 1,600 band members from 13 high schools across the country competed in the festival over the New Year’s holiday. Activities included concert band, jazz band and field show competitions, the Comerica Bank New Year’s Parade in Downtown Dallas, and nationally televised pre-game and halftime pageantry performances at the 72nd AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic on New Year’s Day 2008.

The AT&T Cotton Bowl Music Festival is one of several events developed by AT&T and the Cotton Bowl Athletic Association to extend the legacy of the Classic beyond the Jan. 1 football game. Other activities include the AT&T Cotton Bowl Hall of Fame, AT&T Cotton Bowl Art Contest and support for the Field Scovell Scholarship Foundation.
Field Show Competition (Dec. 30, 2007)

Grand Champion:

Northshore HS

Slidell, La.

Division III 1st Place:	Northshore HS	Slidell, La.
Division III 2nd Place:	Martin Luther King HS	Lithonia, Ga.

Division II 1st Place:

Athens HS

Athens, Ala.

Division I 1st Place:	Rocky Bayou HS	Niceville, Fla.
Division I 2nd Place:	Bearden HS	Bearden, Ark.
Division I 3rd Place:	Sedan HS	Sedan, Kan.

Concert Band Competition (Dec. 30, 2007)

Grand Champion:

Rocky Bayou Christian HS

Niceville, Fla.

Division III 1st Place:

North Platte HS

North Platte, Neb.

Division I 1st Place:	Rocky Bayou Christian HS	Niceville, Fla.
Division I 2nd Place:	Eastern HS	Greentown, Ind.
Division I 3rd Place:	Gallatin HS	Gallatin, Mo.
Honorable Mention:	Medicine Lodge HS	Medicine Lodge, Kan.

Indoor Guard Competition (Dec. 30, 2007)

Grand Champion:

Eastern HS

Greentown, Ind.

Open 1st Place:	Eastern HS	Greentown, Ind.
Open 2nd Place:	Gallatin HS	Gallatin, Mo.
Open 3rd Place:	Sedan HS	Sedan, Kan.

Jazz Band Competition (Dec. 30, 2007)

Grand Champion:

Rocky Bayou Christian HS

Niceville, Fla.

Division III 1st Place:

North Platte, HS

North Platte, Neb.

Division I 1st Place:	Rocky Bayou HS	Niceville, Fla.
Division I 2nd Place:	Eastern HS	Greentown, Ind.

Comerica Bank New Year’s Parade (Dec. 31, 2007)

Grand Champion:

Brookings HS

Brookings, SD

Division III 1st Place:	North Platte HS	North Platte, Neb.
Division III 2nd Place:	Martin Luther King HS	Lithonia, Ga.
Division III 3rd Place:	Northshore HS	Slidell, La.

Division II 1st Place:	Brookings HS	Brookings, SD
Division II 2nd Place:	Athens HS	Athens, Ala.
Division II 3rd Place:	East Hall HS	Gainesville, Ga.

Division I 1st Place:	Rocky Bayou Christian HS	Niceville, Fla.
Division I 2nd Place:	Eastern HS	Greentown, Ind.
Division I 3rd Place:	Gallatin HS	Gallatin, Mo.
Honorable Mention:	Bearden HS	Bearden, Ark.
Honorable Mention:	Sedan HS	Sedan, Kan.
Honorable Mention:	Piedmont HS	Piedmont, Ala.
Honorable Mention:	Medicine Lodge HS	Medicine Lodge, Kan.

Marching Percussion Competition (Dec. 30, 2007)

Grand Champion:

Eastern HS

Greentown, Ind.

Division III 1st Place:

Martin Luther King HS

Lithonia, Ga.

Division I 1st Place:	Eastern HS	Greentown, Ind.
Division I 2nd Place:	Gallatin HS	Gallatin, Mo.

Best Drum Major:	Northshore HS	Slidell, La.
Best Band Front/Auxiliary:	Athens HS	Athens, Ala.