Marching Bands Bound for WSMA State Championships
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Phone: 608-850-3566
Web: www.wsmamusic.org
WAUNAKEE, Wis. (October 6, 2006) – High school bands from across the state will march onto the UW-Whitewater campus Saturday, October 21. A total of 31 bands are scheduled to participate in the Wisconsin School Music Association (WSMA) State Marching Band Championships at Forrest Perkins Stadium, starting at 12:15 p.m. See schedule below.
The 22nd annual WSMA event is designed “to promote excellence and pride in a competitive atmosphere, while encouraging a spirit of support and enthusiasm among marching band participants,” explained Linda Petersen, WSMA director of programs. “It brings music students together and it's great entertainment for the audience,” Petersen said.
The WSMA State Marching Band Championships are divided into four entry classes determined by total school enrollment. Each band will perform for 15 minutes. A panel of eight judges will evaluate bands in five areas: music performance, marching ability, general effect/audience appeal, percussion and color guard. Bands will receive both a written critique and tape-recorded comments from each judge for their performance.
The UW-Whitewater Warhawk Band will present two exhibition performances at the event, just before the awards ceremonies, which are scheduled for 4:30 p.m. and 9:45 p.m. In each class, awards for Best Percussion, Best Musical Presentation, Best Visual Performance and Best Color Guard will be presented, in addition to division awards and the top three awards in each class.
The final awards ceremony will begin with a moment of silence to honor two prominent Wisconsin high school marching band directors who died in the past year: Gary Kautenberg (Oak Creek) and Doug Greenhalgh (Chippewa Falls); as well as UW-Eau Claire student teacher Branden Atherton (Waukesha). Greenhalgh and Atherton both tragically lost their lives in a bus accident when returning home from this event last year. Kautenberg suffered a fatal heart attack last February at age 55.
“Our close-knit marching band family is honored to pay tribute to these three talented gentlemen. Emotions will run high because we will be celebrating the accomplishments and friendships we shared with each of them,” said Petersen.
Family, friends and community members are invited to attend the WSMA State Marching Band Championships. Tickets are available at the door, $10 for adults, $5 for students and seniors. For more information, including post-event results, visit www.wsmamusic.org/programs/marching_band/index.html.
WSMA State Marching Band Championships
2006 Performance Schedule
Class A Bands
12:15 p.m. – Lancaster
12:30 p.m. – Whitewater
12:45 p.m. – St. Croix Falls
1:00 p.m. – Palmyra-Eagle
1:15 p.m. – Marathon
1:30 p.m. – Baldwin Woodville
1:45 p.m. – Columbus
Class AA Bands
2:15 p.m. – Fort Atkinson
2:30 p.m. – Wisconsin Lutheran
2:45 p.m. – Sauk Prairie
3:00 p.m. – Cudahy
3:15 p.m. – West De Pere
3:30 p.m. – Greendale
3:45 p.m. – Cumberland
4:00 p.m. – Eisenhower
4:15 p.m. – UW-Whitewater Exhibition Performance
4:30 p.m. – Awards Ceremony for Class A and Class AA Bands
Class AAA Bands
5:00 p.m. – Wauwatosa East
5:15 p.m. – Merrill
5:30 p.m. – Hamilton (Sussex)
5:45 p.m. – South Milwaukee
6:00 p.m. – Antigo
6:15 p.m. – Menomonie
6:30 p.m. – River Falls
6:45 p.m. – Germantown
7:00 p.m. – Whitnall
7:15 p.m. – WSMA State Marching Band Class A Champion Exhibition Performance
Class AAAA Bands
7:30 p.m. – Hudson (Critique Only)
7:45 p.m. – Fond du Lac
8:00 p.m. – Oak Creek
8:15 p.m. – Waukesha South
8:30 p.m. – Waukesha West
8:45 p.m. – Waukesha North
9:00 p.m. – Chippewa Falls
9:15 p.m. – WSMA State Marching Band Class AA Champion Exhibition Performance
9:30 p.m. – UW-Whitewater Exhibition Performance
9:45 p.m. – Awards Ceremony for Class AAA and Class AAAA Bands
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Wisconsin School Music Association (WSMA) is a service organization with more than 950 member public and private schools. Each year, more than 220,000 students take the initiative to become involved in WSMA activities, including District and State Music Festivals, State Honors Projects, State Marching Band Championships and Concert Festivals. WSMA, also owner and operator of the Wisconsin Center for Music Education, is governed by a board of directors made up of superintendents, principals and other officers from all over the state. WSMA believes music is a basic human need and that all children have the right to experience all that music offers them.