News…

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – On Saturday, Oct. 19, 26 marching bands from across the state will gather in Charleston for the 2nd annual West Virginia Marching Band Invitational.

The West Virginia Marching Band Invitational is sponsored by the West Virginia Division of Culture and History (WVDCH) in participation with the VH1 Save The Music Foundation, the Higher Education Policy Commission and the West Virginia Department of Education and The Arts. The Marching Band Invitational helps to promote, encourage and celebrate arts education throughout West Virginia.

“This Marching Band Invitational gives our West Virginia high school bands an opportunity to savor the spotlight completely,” said WVDCH Commissioner Randall Reid-Smith. “It gives everyone who loves the band a chance to get a full day of music, high stepping performances and pride in the talents of our young musicians.”

The competition begins at 10 a.m. at the University of Charleston Stadium at Laidley Field and will continue throughout the day.

Bands will be judged on general effect, marching and maneuvering, music, music effect, percussion, drum major, color guard, majorettes and feature twirler.

Tickets are $7 for adults and children 12 years of age and older; $5 for children under 12 years of age. Programs will be sold for $4. A complete performance schedule is attached.

Class A
10 a.m.           SHERMAN HIGH SCHOOL
10:15 a.m.      DODDRIDGE COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL
10:30 a.m.      WAHAMA JUNIOR/SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
10:45 a.m.      HARMAN SCHOOL
11a.m.            POCAHONTAS COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL
11:15 a.m.      ST. MARYS HIGH SCHOOL
11:30 a.m.      RITCHIE COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL – (1) AA

Class (1) AA
1 p.m.             TOLSIA HIGH SCHOOL
1:15 p.m.        RIVER VIEW HIGH SCHOOL     
1:30 p.m.        POCA HIGH SCHOOL
1:45 p.m.        SISSONVILLE HIGH SCHOOL
2 p.m.             WAYNE HIGH SCHOOL 

Class (2) AA
2:45 p.m.        NICHOLAS COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL
3 p.m.             BLUEFIELD HIGH SCHOOL
3:15 p.m.        ROANE COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL       
3:30 p.m.        INDEPENDENCE HIGH SCHOOL
3:45 p.m.        SCOTT HIGH SCHOOL
4 p.m.             RICHWOOD HIGH SCHOOL (A)

Class AAA
4:15 p.m.        NITRO HIGH SCHOOL    
4:30 p.m.        ST. ALBANS HIGH SCHOOL
4:45 p.m.        WINFIELD HIGH SCHOOL

MAJORETTE COMPETITION
5:15 p.m.        MISS MAJORETTE

Class AAAA
5:45 p.m.        PHILIP BARBOUR HIGH SCHOOL (2) AA
6 p.m.             PARKERSBURG SOUTH HIGH SCHOOL
6:15 p.m.        CAPITAL HIGH SCHOOL
6:30 p.m.        CABELL MIDLAND HIGH SCHOOL

EXHIBITIONS AND AWARDS PRESENTATIONS
6:45 p.m.        WEST VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY EXHIBITION PERFORMANCE
7:15 p.m.        FULL RETREAT – ALL BANDS FINALE
7:30 p.m.        AWARDS PRESENTATION

The West Virginia Division of Culture and History is an agency within the West Virginia Department of Education and the Arts with Kay Goodwin, Cabinet Secretary. The Division, led by Commissioner Randall Reid-Smith, brings together the past, present and future through programs and services focusing on archives and history, arts, historic preservation and museums. For more information about the Division’s programs, events and sites, visit www.wvculture.org.

– 30 –