Marching Bands In Step for WSMA State Championships
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Kevin Thays
Phone: 608-850-3566
Email: kthays@wsmamusic.org
Web: www.wsmamusic.org
WAUNAKEE, Wis. (October 12, 2007) – High school bands from across the state will march onto the UW-Whitewater campus Saturday, October 20. More than 30 bands are scheduled to participate in the 23rd annual Wisconsin School Music Association (WSMA) State Marching Band Championships at Forrest Perkins Stadium, starting at 10:45 a.m. See schedule below.
“Marching band is more than a competitive endeavor for Wisconsin students. It is truly an educational lesson in teamwork, camaraderie, goal setting, achieving excellence, accepting criticism and hard work. Students are asked to push themselves harder than in any other event throughout the school year,” said Tim Wurgler, WSMA program director.
The WSMA State Marching Band Championships are divided into four entry classes determined by total school enrollment. Each band will perform for 15 minutes. A panel of eight judges will evaluate bands in five areas: music performance, visual performance, general effect, percussion and color guard. Bands will receive both a written critique and tape-recorded comments from each judge for their performance. In addition to the competitive classes, there is a Novice Class (for critique only), and new this year, a non-competitive “Festival Class,” which utilizes an adjudication process for ratings, similar to WSMA’s renowned Concert Festivals.
The UW-Whitewater Warhawk Band will present two exhibition performances at the event, just before the awards ceremonies. In each class, awards for Best Percussion, Best Musical Presentation, Best Visual Performance and Best Color Guard will be presented, in addition to division awards and the top three awards in each class.
Family, friends and community members are invited to attend the WSMA State Marching Band Championships. Tickets are available at the door, $11 for adults, $6 for students (ages 6-17) and senior citizens. For more information, visit www.wsmamusic.org/programs/marching_band/index.html.
Performance Schedule
Festival Class Bands
10:45 a.m. - Portage
11:00 a.m. - Milwaukee Riverside
11:15 a.m. - Mukwonago
11:30 a.m. - Awards Ceremony for Festival
Class
Novice Class
12:15 p.m. - Westosha Central
12:30 p.m. - Berlin
Class A Bands
12:45 p.m. - Palmyra-Eagle
1:00 p.m. - Columbus
1:15 p.m. - Baldwin Woodville
1:30 p.m. - St. Croix Falls
1:45 p.m. - Lancaster
2:00 p.m. - Whitewater
2:15 p.m. - Marathon
Class AA Bands
2:45 p.m. - Cumberland
3:00 p.m. - Cudahy
3:15 p.m. - Fort Atkinson
3:30 p.m. - Greendale
3:45 p.m. - Eisenhower
4:00 p.m. - Sauk Prairie
4:15 p.m. - Onalaska
4:30 p.m. - Wisconsin Lutheran
4:45 p.m. - West De Pere
5:00 p.m. - UW-Whitewater Exhibition Performance
5:15 p.m. - Awards Ceremony for Class A and
Class AA Band
Class AAA Bands
5:45 p.m. - Menomonie
6:00 p.m. - South Milwaukee
6:15 p.m. - Wauwatosa East
6:30 p.m. - Antigo
6:45 p.m. - River Falls
7:00 p.m. - Whitnall
7:15 p.m. - Merrill
7:30 p.m. - WSMA State Marching Band Class A
Champion Exhibition Performance
Class AAAA Bands
7:45 p.m. - Hudson (Critique Only)
8:00 p.m. - Waukesha West
8:15 p.m. - Oak Creek
8:30 p.m. - Waukesha North
8:45 p.m. - Chippewa Falls
9:00 p.m. - Waukesha South
9:15 p.m. - Hamilton (Sussex)
9:30 p.m. - Germantown
9:45 p.m. - WSMA State Marching Band Class AA
Champion Exhibition Performance
10:00 p.m. - UW-Whitewater Exhibition
Performance
10:30 p.m. - Awards Ceremony for Class AAA and Class AAAA Bands
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Wisconsin School Music Association (WSMA) is a service organization with more than 1,000 member public and private schools. Each year, more than 220,000 students take the initiative to become involved in WSMA activities, including District and State Music Festivals, State Honors Projects, State Marching Band Championships and Concert Festivals. WSMA, also owner and operator of the Wisconsin Center for Music Education, 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.