The Middle School Honor Band Festival, planned as an all-day event Friday at Smith Recital Hall, has been cancelled due to inclement weather.

Athletic band director Adam Dalton said this decision was mostly dependent on the widespread school cancellations experienced throughout West Virginia.

“Our primary concern is for the safety of all the participants and we do not want to risk putting that many people on the road in difficult driving situations,” Dalton said, addressing the invited directors. “We look forward and hope to see you at the event again next year.”

Director of bands Brian O. Walden announced the decision Thursday around 10 a.m.

The Spring 2015 event hosted nearly 300 middle school students from West Virginia, Ohio and Kentucky, the Herald Dispatch reported.

Walden said he had received numerous notices via email about individual cancellations from those invited to the event.

Dalton also said it would not be possible to hold the event again this year.

“With all of the stuff that’s scheduled here, it’s next to impossible to reschedule it,” Dalton said.

In an email to the invited directors, Walden and Dalton offered to extend their assistance to the students by paying a visit individually in the future.

Ryan Fischer can be contacted at [email protected].