Annual Invitational High School Marching Band Championship Oct. 21

Date: 10/12/06
Contact: Marc Lebovitz

Forty one high school marching bands from throughout Illinois will compete in the annual State of Illinois Invitational High School Marching Band Championship, or "Band Day," at Illinois State University's Hancock Stadium beginning at 7 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 21.

Band Day celebrates its 41st year with bands competing for a championship trophy as well as for other honors in six classes based on school enrollment. Competition covers musicianship, showmanship and marching. A panel of adjudicators from across the United States has been assembled for the competition.

The day's first band, stepping off at 7 a.m., will be Monticello High School. Following the final band in the preliminary competition, Illinois State University Big Red Marching Machine will give a special performance at 6:12 p.m. to end the daytime events. The finals competition will begin with trophy presentation, followed by the finals competition featuring the top 10 scoring bands and all class winners, beginning at 7:30 p.m.

Admission for the entire day's activities is $15. Attending only daytime or evening events is $8. Senior citizens can attend for $12 for the day or $7 for daytime or evening session only. Children 12 and younger are admitted free. Tickets are available at the Hancock Stadium gates and seating is general admission.

Last year's grand champion marching band was Marian Catholic, followed by, tied for second, Naperville North and Lincoln Way East. Lake Park was fourth, followed by Lincoln Way Central, United Township, Morton, Wheaton Warrenville South, Warren Township, Lemont and Eureka.

Following Blue Ridge High School's opening performance, the other bands, at 14-minute increments, will be Monticello, Olympia and Eureka. After a 14-minute break, Morton will perform at 8:10, followed by Herscher, Marengo Community, Murphysboro, Marmion-Rosary, Mt. Zion and Illinois Valley Central.

After another break, during which Class 1A and 2A winners are announced, competition resumes at 10:16 a.m. with Metamora followed by Huntley, Lemont, Marian Catholic, Danville and Normal West. A 14-minute break will be followed by performances by United Township, Argo Community, Romeoville, Normal Community, Rock Island, Rolling Meadows and Collinsville. Class 3A and 4A awards will then be presented.

Thornwood will perform at 2 p.m. followed by Wheaton North, Wheaton Warrenville, Joliet West, Victor J. Andrew and Plainfield South. Another 14-minute break will be followed by performances by Bolingbrook, Fremd, Naperville Central, Lincoln-Way Central, Brother Rice/St. Laurence, Warren Township, Downers Grove South, Lincoln-Way East, Lake Park, Naperville North and Waubonsie Valley.

A performance by Illinois State University's Big Red Marching Machine at 6:12 will be followed at 6:30 by the announcement of Class 5A and 6A winners and then the naming of the finalist bands, which will begin their finals competition at 7:30 p.m.