Which Columbus area high school has the best drumline? You can help decide
When the Albany State University and Fort Valley State University football teams play Nov. 8 in the 35th annual Fountain City Classic at A.J. McClung Memorial Stadium in Columbus, a variety of traditional networking, fundraising and social activities will be conducted leading up to the rivalry game.
Now, for the first time, this year’s Fountain City Classic festivities will include a Battle of the Drumlines competition for high schools in the Chattahoochee Valley.
Eligibility and application for Battle of the Drumlines
Registration starts Sept. 22. To be eligible, drumlines must:
- Be from a school within a 100-mile radius of Columbus.
- Fill out the entry form on the Fountain City Classic’s website.
- Submit a video from one of their performances. The video should be no more than 2 minutes and submitted through a link, not an upload.
The deadline to enter is Oct. 10.
Voting and judging for Battle of the Drumlines
Ledger-Enquirer readers will determine the finalists by voting from Oct. 13-24 in an online poll, where they will view the submitted videos of the drumlines and choose their favorite.
The top six vote-getters will be the finalists. They will compete live on the A.J. McClung Memorial Stadium field during the pregame festivities, when each finalist will have 6-8 minutes to perform. A panel of drumline experts and local celebrities will judge the competition and select the winner, which will receive a trophy and $2,500 for their school’s band. The winner will be announced at halftime.
A “fan’s choice” winner also will be determined at the event on Nov. 8 through crowd applause.
Fountain City Classic executive director Robbie Branscomb told the Ledger-Enquirer what the motivation is for this contest.
“We believe in investing in our future leaders,” she said. “We believe that they are the intellectual capital that will shape tomorrow.”
The Albany State and Fort Valley State bands play such an integral part in making the Fountain City Classic a fun event, Brancscomb said, so organizers wanted to provide high school bands a similar experience. But the logistics of coordinating that many large groups of people and squeezing their performances into halftime of the game wasn’t practical, she said.
That’s why they decided to limit the high school competition to drumlines.
“We just want to recognize our high school students and let them know this is a place where they can definitely be mentored and exposed to what their future can look like,” Branscomb said.
Ledger-Enquirer senior editor Jeremy Chisenhall explained why the L-E agreed to be involved in the Battle of the Drumlines.
“With this competition, I think the Fountain City Classic is providing local students with a chance to represent their school with pride and showcase the talent and passion that exists in our local drumlines,” he said. “What’s more, students have the opportunity to see a better outcome for their programs, thanks to the prize offered for the winner. Getting the chance to partner with the classic for an event that allows our community to come together over the love of marching bands and school spirit is a can’t-miss opportunity.”
The Fountain City Classic hopes L-E readers will consider donating to the Close the Gap Fund, a charity that allows the organization to not only host events such as the Battle of the Drumlines but also provide money to college students to get them through college, not just to college
For more information about the Battle of the Drumlines, email competition co-chairs Sadonna Bob, Sylvia Singleton and Candace Thirkield at botb@fountaincityclass.com.
This story was originally published September 22, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
