Marching Band Festival hosts 900 high school students

Baker University’s 18th annual 1-5A Marching Band Festival will take place Wednesday, Oct. 12, at Liston Stadium on Baker’s Baldwin City campus. More than 900 students from 14 Kansas and Missouri high school marching bands, drum lines, and color guards will perform during the festival. The Jeremy Frye Grand Championship Trophy will be awarded to the highest-scoring band in the festival. Admission is free to the public.

“The marching festival is a celebration of these students’ musical achievements and an opportunity for students to share those achievements with their parents, peers, and the community,” Marching Band Festival Director and Baker Director of Bands Dr. Frank Perez said.

The festival is divided into an afternoon section from 1:30-5 p.m. and an evening session from 5-8 p.m. Marching bands will perform from 2-4 p.m. and again from 6:45-8 p.m., while color guards and drum lines are scheduled to perform from 5-6:20 p.m. Judges for this year’s festival include Eric Stambaugh, director of bands at Buhler High School in Buhler, Kansas; Dr. Derrick Crow of Danville School District 118 in Danville, Illinois; and former music educator Gary McCarty.

The festival will conclude with an 8 p.m. performance by the Baker University Dance Team before the grand champion trophy is awarded.