Marching Bands in Step to WSMA State Championships
UPDATE: 2005 WSMA State Marching Band Championships Results
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Kevin Thays
Phone: 608-850-3566
Email: kthays@wsmamusic.org
Web: www.wsmamusic.org
WAUNAKEE, Wis. (October 6, 2005) – High school bands from across the state will march onto the UW-Whitewater campus Saturday, October 15. A total of 32 bands are scheduled to participate in the Wisconsin School Music Association (WSMA) State Marching Band Championships at Forrest Perkins Stadium, starting at 11:45 a.m.
The 21st annual WSMA event is designed "to promote excellence and pride in a competitive atmosphere, while encouraging a spirit of support and enthusiasm among marching band participants," explained Linda Petersen, WSMA director of programs. "It brings music students together and it's great entertainment for the audience,” Petersen said.
In addition to challenging the marching bands, WSMA is calling on its expected 8,000+ attendees to make donations to the American Red Cross for the Katrina hurricane relief effort. Donations will be accepted all day at on-site American Red Cross donation canisters. WSMA has challenged each student to contribute $1 and adult fans are asked to at least double student contributions. Proceeds will go to help Katrina victims in places like New Orleans, where great American jazz history lives and music is at the heart of the city.
The WSMA State Marching Band Championships are divided into four entry classes determined by total school enrollment. Each band will perform for 15 minutes in the competitions. A panel of nine judges will evaluate bands in five areas: music performance, marching ability, general effect/audience appeal, percussion, color guard and timing. Bands will receive both a written critique and tape-recorded comments from each judge for their performance.
Participating high schools are listed in the schedule below:
Novice Class Band
11:45 a.m. – South Milwaukee
Class A Bands
12:00 p.m. – Whitewater
12:15 p.m. – Palmyra-Eagle
12:30 p.m. – Spooner
12:45 p.m. – Lancaster
1:00 p.m. – St. Croix Falls
1:15 p.m. – Baldwin-Woodville
1:30 p.m. – Marathon
1:45 p.m. – Columbus
2:00 p.m. – Antigo
Class AA Bands
2:30 p.m. – Wisconsin Lutheran
2:45 p.m. – Cudahy
3:00 p.m. – Sauk Prairie
3:15 p.m. – Cumberland
3:30 p.m. – New Berlin Eisenhower
3:45 p.m. – Greendale
4:00 p.m. – Fort Atkinson
4:15 p.m. – West De Pere
4:30 p.m. – UW-Whitewater Exhibition Performance
4:45 p.m. – Awards Ceremony for Novice, Class A, Class AA Bands
Class AAA Bands
5:30 p.m. – Hamilton (Sussex)
5:45 p.m. – Wauwatosa East
6:00 p.m. – Merrill
6:15 p.m. – Germantown
6:30 p.m. – River Falls
6:45 p.m. – Whitnall
7:00 p.m. – Menomonie
7:15 p.m. – WSMA State Marching Band Class A Champion Exhibition Performance
Class AAAA Bands
7:30 p.m. – Hudson (Critique Only)
7:45 p.m. – Fond du Lac
8:00 p.m. – Oak Creek
8:15 p.m. – Waukesha West
8:30 p.m. – Waukesha North
8:45 p.m. – Waukesha South
9:00 p.m. – Chippewa Falls
9:15 p.m. – WSMA State Marching Band Class AA Champion Exhibition Performance
9:30 p.m. – UW-Whitewater Exhibition Performance
9:45 p.m. – Awards Ceremony for Class AAA and Class AAAA Bands
Two special award ceremonies at the Marching Band Championships will recognize top bands. In each class, awards for Best Percussion, Best Musical Presentation, Best Visual Performance and Best Color Guard will be presented. WSMA will also honor the school that best demonstrates camaraderie, spirit and enthusiasm with the prestigious Esprit de Corps award. Award ceremonies are scheduled for 4:45 p.m. and 9:45 p.m. The UW-Whitewater Warhawk Band will present two exhibition performances at the event, just before the awards ceremonies.
Family, friends and community members are invited to attend the WSMA State Marching Band Championships. Tickets are available at the door, $10 for adults, $5 for students.
# # #
Wisconsin School Music Association is a service organization with more than 1,000 member public and private schools. Last year over 219,000 students took the initiative to become involved in WSMA activities, including District and State Music Festivals, State Honors Projects, State Marching Band Championships, and Concert Festivals. The Association is headquartered in, owns and operates the Wisconsin Center for Music Education – first of its kind in the nation. The Association is governed by a Board of Directors made up of superintendents, principals, and other officers from all over the state. WSMA believes music is a basic human need, and that all children have the right to experience all that music offers them.