Dear Friends;

I am deeply sorry, but the Fort Mountain Marching Contest will have to be cancelled this year. The number of bands signing up was not sufficient to make the event legitimate as a competitive event and the costs of hosting the event would have exceeded our income from the event. I have considered the various factors from every angle I can think of and I don’t feel that it is fair to ask you to continue to make the sacrifices of time needed to push forward with all of the many tasks related to the festival with no reasonable prospect of not losing money. As a board and as a general membership, our Band Boosters have been very successful at meeting the needs of the students and the program; I am not at all comfortable about throwing that hard earned money away just to operate a festival which would have not have provided a valid competitive presence to the music education community. Please share this information with the various vendors who were planning to operate at the contest.

I regret the situation and I am very sorry for the efforts of many which have already been expended. My personal and professional reputation in the circle of my friends and colleagues takes a big hit in a situation like this, so please understand that I did not make the decision lightly.

Please allow me to thank you all again for the work you do and your commitment to the students and the program.

Sincerely and respectfully,

Mike Weaver

Director of Bands

Murray County High School

Gladden Middle School