Morehead State University's Blue and Gold Marching Band Championship will be held on the MSU campus Saturday, Sept. 27. A total of 20 bands from Kentucky will participate in the event at Jayne Stadium.
Nationally recognized authorities in the field of marching band will evaluate the bands. These adjudicators include: Dr. Larry Blocher from Troy, Alabama; Mark Casey from Richmond; David Edwards from South Point, Ohio; Bob Gregg from Cynthiana; Cathy Kersten from Apopka, Florida; Dr. Charles Menghini from Chicago; Dr. Steven Moore from Pinecrest, Florida; and Jonathan Smith from Ludlow.
The championship includes both a Preliminary and Finals Competition. The Preliminary Competition starts at 9:15 a.m. Each band will be evaluated for a Kentucky Music Educators Association sanctioned rating of Distinguished, Proficient, Apprentice and Novice. In addition, the bands will compete for first, second and third place in one of five classifications divided according to school size.
The Finals Competition begins at 4:45 p.m. and will feature three outstanding Exhibition Bands and the top 12 bands. The bands will compete in the evening for a ranking of 1-12 regardless of school size. The highest scoring band will be awarded the coveted MSU Blue and Gold Grand Champion Award. Additional recognitions will include the Outstanding Auxiliary and Percussion Awards presented at the Preliminary Competition. The Finals Competition specialty awards will include recognition for the Best Visual Performance, Best Music Performance, Best General Effect, Best Woodwinds and Best Brass.
High schools participating (and performance times) are:
Raceland-Worthington, 9:15 a.m.; Williamstown, 9:30 a.m.; Paris, 9:45 a.m.; Lewis County, 10 a.m.; Fleming County, 10:15 a.m.; Carroll County, 10:30 a.m.; Pike County Central, 10:45 a.m.; Danville, 11 a.m.; Estill County, 11:15 a.m.; Ashland Blazer, 12:15 p.m.;
Bourbon County, 12:30 p.m.; Mercer County, 12:45 p.m.; Rowan County, 1 p.m.; Campbell County , 1:30 p.m.; George Rogers Clark, 1:45 p.m.; Madison Central, 2 p.m.; DuPont Manual, 2:15 p.m.; Paul Laurence Dunbar, 2:30 p.m.; Pleasure Ridge Park, 2:45 p.m.; and Male, 3 p.m.
The MSU band will perform at 8:45 p.m. and will precede the Finals Competition award ceremony. Dr. Susan Creasap serves as the director of the MSU Marching Band and is assisted by Dr. Brian Mason, director of the MSU Marching Percussion. This year's production features the music of Batman.
The first band of the event performs in the Preliminary Competition at 9:15 a.m. The Finals Competition begins at 4:45 p.m. and the MSU Performance is at 8:45 p.m. with the Awards Ceremony immediately following at 9 p.m.
General admission to the Preliminary Competition and the Finals Competition is $8 for each separate event, children six to 12 is $5, and children six and under are admitted free. A special rate that includes both Prelims and Finals is available for only $10 for adults and $8 for children.
The MSU Blue and Gold Marching Band Championship is sponsored by the Morehead State University Bands, Dr. Richard Miles, director of bands and Dr. Creasap.
Additional information is available by contacting MSU's Bands Office at 606-783-2485.