Published: October 16, 2009 09:56 pm      

Band competition today in Morehead

MOREHEAD — The 2009 Blue and Gold Championship of Marching Bands takes place today at Jayne Stadium on the campus of Morehead State University.

Thirty high school marching bands will perform a specially designed show for spectators and a panel of judges. The shows will be judged on lively and varied music, creative drill movements and visual pageantry.

Bands have the opportunity to perform in two different evaluation formats.

One is a festival division for those groups who choose to receive ratings from the judges of distinguished, proficient, apprentice, or novice. These ratings are intended to be similar to the evaluation process of statewide portfolio assessment.

The second format is the competitive division, which allows a group to choose both the rating process and a ranking of placement by a classification based on school size. The top band of the Competitive Division will be named the Grand Champion.

The event starts at 11 a.m., and each band performs in 15-minute intervals.

A special feature will be the exhibition performance by the MSU marching band at 8 p.m., right before the presentation of awards at 8:15 p.m.. The band is directed by Susan Creasap, associate director of bands, and Brian Mason, assistant professor of music.

The band’s show features the music of James Bond: “007 — Shaken, Not Stirred.” The music will include the renowned “James Bond Theme,” “Live and Let Die,” and “You Know My Name.”

High schools participating are Paul G. Blazer (Ashland), Boyd County, Bullitt Central, Bullitt East, Bryan Station, Carroll County, Central Hardin, duPont Manual, East Ridge, Fairview, Green (Ohio), Hillsboro (Ohio), Holmes, Lafayette, Lawrence County, Lewis County, Madison Southern, Mason County, Mercer County, Montgomery County, Morgan County, Newport, Perry County Central, Raceland, Rockcastle County, Rowan County, Russell, Shelby Valley, Sheldon Clark and West Jessamine.

Concessions will be available throughout the day and admission is $8 with children 6 and younger free.

The Blue and Gold Championship of Marching Bands is organized through the Morehead State University Bands Office. More information is available by contacting Richard Miles, director of bands, at (606) 783-2486.