Published: October 08, 2009 10:35 pm      

Marching bands to compete Oct. 17

Morehead — Several area high school bands will compete in the 2009 Blue and Gold Championship of Marching Bands on Oct. 17 at Morehead State University.

Paul G. Blazer, Boyd County, Fairview, Lawrence County, Raceland-Worthington and Russell are among 30 high school marching bands that will perform a specially designed show for spectators and a panel of nationally recognized judges.

The shows will feature lively and varied music, creative drill movements and visual pageantry.

Bands have the opportunity to perform in two different evaluation formats, festival or competitive.

The festival division is for those bands choosing to receive ratings of distinguished, proficient, apprentice or novice. The ratings are similar to the evaluation process of statewide portfolio assessment.

The competitive division uses rating and ranking based on school size.

Awards will be presented for first, second and third place in five classifications. In addition, the outstanding percussion and auxiliary sections will be honored in each classification. The top band of the competitive division will be named the grand champion.

Each band performs in 15-minute intervals.

A special feature will be the exhibition performance by the MSU marching band right before the presentation of awards. The band is directed by Susan Creasap, associate director of bands, and Brian Mason, assistant professor of music.

The band performs custom designed shows with specially arranged music and choreography. This year’s show features the music of James Bond: “007 – Shaken, Not Stirred.” The music will include the “James Bond Theme,” “Live and Let Die” and “You Know My Name.”

The event will start at 11 a.m. and conclude with the MSU marching band exhibition at 8 p.m. The awards ceremony follows at 8:15 p.m. Concessions will be available throughout the day. Admission is $8, with children six and younger admitted free.