ALLATOONA HIGH SCHOOL · ACWORTH, GEORGIA

CONQUEST

An invitational marching band competition hosted by the Allatoona Band Booster Association.

REGISTER YOUR BAND COMPETITION DETAILS
Conquest 2026, Allatoona High School Invitational Marching Band Competition
About the Competition

ABOUT THE COMPETITION

The Conquest is an annual invitational marching band competition hosted by the Allatoona Band Booster Association at Allatoona High School in Acworth, Georgia. Bands from across the region compete for captions and overall championships in front of a panel of professional adjudicators.

The Conquest is a Captions-style contest with professional assessments for Music Performance, Visual Performance, General Effect, Drum Major, and Visual Ensembles.

Date October 17, 2026
Location
Allatoona High School
3300 Old US 41 Hwy NW
Acworth, GA 30101
Contact
Competition

RULES & REGULATIONS

  1. $100 registration fee for all participating bands, due immediately.

  2. Georgia bands must submit a refundable $500 performance bond by separate check. Bond returned on day of competition if band performs.

  3. Both registration fee and performance bond are returned if the event is cancelled.

  4. Competition field is regulation size, well-lit football field with 5 and 10 yard lines, high school hash marks, and sidelines clearly marked. Field is turf, drains well, has a moderate crown. Field power available on either side at the 50 yard line. No projectiles or pyrotechnics permitted.

  5. Captions-style contest: adjudicators provide professional assessments for Music Performance, Visual Performance, General Effect, Drum Major, and Visual Ensembles/Auxiliary Units.

  6. Bands classified by number of wind instrument players. May enter a higher classification but not lower.

  7. 20-minute performance intervals.

  8. Order of performance within each class determined by pre-registration completion date. Earliest registrants perform last in class.

  9. Scoring per GMEA guidelines: Superior 85–100, Excellent 70–84.9, Average 55–69.9, Fair 0–54.9.

  10. In inclement weather, competition moves to Allatoona gymnasium with Comments Only (no numerical scores).

Band Size

CLASSIFICATIONS

Class Wind Players
Class A 1–40
Class AA 41–59
Class AAA 60–79
Class AAAA 80–100
Class AAAAA 101+
Recognition

AWARDS

PER-CLASS AWARDS

Awarded in each classification.

  • 1st, 2nd, 3rd Place in Class
  • Best Music Performance
  • Best General Effect
  • Best Visual Performance
  • Best Percussion
  • Best Drum Major
  • Best Visual Ensemble

OVERALL AWARDS

Awarded across all classifications.

  • Overall Best General Effect
  • Overall Best Music Performance
  • Overall Best Visual Performance
  • Silver Division Champion (highest overall in Classes A, AA, AAA)
  • Gold Division Champion (highest overall in Classes AAAA, AAAAA)
  • Overall Grand Champion (highest overall regardless of class)
Panel

ADJUDICATORS

David Starnes, Chief Judge

David Starnes

Chief Judge · Chief Academic Officer, The Gift of Music

David Starnes served as Assistant Professor and Director of Athletic Bands at Western Carolina University from 2011–2020, and as founding Director of Bands at Kennesaw Mountain High School from 2000–2011. During his tenure at WCU, he led the 500+ member Pride of the Mountains Marching Band to BOA Regional Championships and twice to Grand Nationals, and to the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. At Kennesaw Mountain, the band was a six-time national finalist at BOA Grand Nationals, 2004 AAA National Champion, and four-time Regional Champion. Mr. Starnes has served as creative designer for Spirit of Atlanta, Carolina Crown, and The Cavaliers. Inducted into the Bands of America Hall of Fame, Class of 2019.

Dr. Cara Morantz

Dr. Cara Morantz

Assistant Director of Bands, University of Alabama at Birmingham

Dr. Cara Morantz is Assistant Director of Bands and Assistant Professor of Music at UAB, where she joined the faculty in 2014. She previously spent nine years in Cobb County public schools, serving at Lassiter High School, Cooper Middle School, and Durham Middle School. Dr. Morantz holds degrees from the University of Miami (BM, cum laude), the University of Georgia (MM), and earned her Doctorate of Education from UGA in 2016.

Stephanie Grote

Stephanie Grote

Lead Band Director, Durham Middle School

Stephanie Grote is the lead band director at Durham Middle School in Acworth, Georgia. She previously served as Assistant Band Director at Allatoona High School and taught at Vandegrift High School in Austin, Texas from 2012–2018. Mrs. Grote graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of North Texas and served as Drum Major of the WGI Santa Clara Vanguard, the first female head Drum Major in SCV history. She received the Jim Jones Leadership Award in 2009.

Dr. Brandon Meeks

Dr. Brandon Meeks

Director of Athletic Bands, Kennesaw State University

Dr. Brandon Meeks holds a PhD in Music Education from Florida State University and a BS in Music Education from Western Carolina University. He has taught from middle school through university level and previously served as Assistant Director of Athletic Bands at the University of Houston. Dr. Meeks is a National Board-Certified Teacher and holds honorary memberships to Kappa Kappa Psi and Tau Beta Sigma.

Tim Fairbanks, Percussion Judge

Tim Fairbanks

Percussion Judge · Vice President, WGI Sport of the Arts

Tim Fairbanks has taught at Centerville High School in Ohio since 1997 as Marching Percussion Director and Drill Designer. He directs Rhythm X, WGI Percussion Independent World Class Champion in 2008, 2009, and 2013, and has served as Drill Designer for the Bluecoats and Blue Stars. Tim serves as Vice President for WGI Sport of the Arts and is an internationally in-demand clinician, designer, arranger, and adjudicator.

Koji Mori, Drum Major Judge

Koji Mori

Drum Major Judge · Director of Orchestras, Harrison High School

Koji Mori has served as Director of Orchestras at Harrison High School in Kennesaw, Georgia since 2018. He holds degrees from Columbus State University, the University of Georgia, and Berry College. Under his direction, the Harrison Orchestras have received superior ratings annually at GMEA evaluations. Mr. Mori conducted for the Phantom Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps in 2008 and 2009, assisting in their first standalone DCI World Championship title. He is on staff with the Bands of America Summer Symposium and remains active as a leadership and conducting clinician nationally.

Sign Up

REGISTRATION

Registration is open for Conquest 2026. Complete the registration form and submit payment to secure your band's spot. Performance order is determined by registration completion date; earlier registrations perform later in their class.

  • $100 registration fee (all bands)
  • $500 performance bond, separate check (Georgia bands only; refundable)
  • Completed registration form
REGISTER YOUR BAND

Questions? Contact us at

Venue

FACILITIES & LOGISTICS

  • Well-lit regulation football field (turf, moderate crown, drains well)
  • 5 and 10 yard lines, high school hash marks, sidelines clearly marked
  • Fence enclosing field with regulation track outside, bleachers on both sides
  • Flat paved surface for equipment and percussion instrument movement
  • Motorized vehicles require drip pan or spill prevention device
  • Field power on either side at the 50 yard line
  • Designated videotaping area
  • Reserved band seating based on number of participating bands
  • Concession stand

Fire is not permitted at any time.

Logistics questions: