After guiding Mifflin County bands to an elite level for decades, Art Belfiore retired at the end of the last school year. Enter Brandon Kahley, who certainly wanted to keep the Marching Huskies competing at the highest level.

Mission accomplished.

Mifflin County punched its ticket to compete at the Atlantic Coast Championships in Hershey next weekend. The Huskies did so by winning the Tournament of Bands Pennsylvania State Championship Class 3-A title at Mansion Park in Altoona.

Mifflin County scored a 91.50 and won special awards for High Auxiliary, High Visual, High Music and High Percussion to become the school’s newest state champion.

Photo courtesy of MIFFLIN COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT Mifflin County High School Director of Bands Brandon Kahley talks to the band about their performance.

It didn’t come easy as the band members had a very short night as they were getting back home around midnight from attending and playing at the Huskies football game. The band members had to be back at school at 6 a.m. to begin warming up for the day’s competition.

It was worth the sacrifice.

“After a long and early day, we have done it,” Kahley said after the results were announced. “I couldn’t be more proud of the students, and couldn’t be more thankful for the staff, volunteers and administrators that supported us along the way.

“Next stop, ACCs next weekend!” Kahley added.

This year, a total of 17 high school marching bands competed at states at different levels, including Mifflin County: Conemaugh Township High School in Davidsville, Somerset County; DuBois Area Senior High School in DuBois, Clearfield County; East Allegheny High School in North Versailles, Allegheny County; Elizabeth Forward High School in Elizabeth, Allegheny County; and Greater Johnstown Senior High School in Johnstown, Cambria County.

And Huntingdon Area High School, Huntingdon; Juniata Valley High School in Alexandria, Huntingdon County; McGuffey High School in Claysville, Washington County; Penn-Trafford High School in Harrison City, Westmoreland County; Serra Catholic High School in McKeesport, Allegheny County; and Somerset Area Junior-Senior High School in Somerset, Somerset County.

Also, Southern Tioga School District in Blossburg, Tioga County; Sto-Rox Junior-Senior High School in McKees Rocks, Allegheny County; Tussey Mountain Senior High School in Saxton, Bedford County; Tyrone Area High School, Tyrone; and WestMont Hilltop Senior High School in Johnstown.

The Slippery Rock University Marching Band also performed at the competition as a special treat for all of the bands.

When Belfiore was hired to be the band director at Lewistown Area High School in 1991, there were a meager 24 kids out for marching band. As the only director of bands the Mifflin County Marching Huskies had ever known, Belfiore retired with the program at its pinnacle of success.

Under Belfiore — fresh off winning a third-straight Tournament of Bands state title last season, three Atlantic Coast Championships in seven years and a 10th regional title — the Huskies remain a dynasty in the high school’s decade of existence. The regional crowns include both Belfiore’s tenure at Mifflin County and Lewistown.

Both Belfiore and Kahley played with Penn State’s well-known Blue Band. Before coming to Mifflin County, Kahley served as the band director and music teacher at Bucktail middle and high school since the fall of 2022.

At the Atlantic Coast Championships, the Huskies will be performing Sunday at 9:15 a.m.

This early start time will make for another super early start for the band members, who will be arriving at the school several hours before dawn in hopes of securing an ACC Championship.