ST. LOUIS, Mo. (WSIL) -- Three area teams are set to take part in a regional marching band competition in St. Louis this weekend.
The event is called Bands of America St. Louis Super Regional Championship and features 72 high school teams from Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas and Wisconsin.
The large marching band championship showcases outstanding visual performances and student musicians.
The three area teams participating are from Murphysboro, Cape Girardeau and McCracken County.
This competition takes place on October 25-26 at The Dome at America's Center and is presented by Yamaha.
The Murphysboro High School marching band performs at 11:30 a.m. on Friday. The director for the program is Nicholas Williams. The music selections include, “St. Louis Blues� by W.C. Handy; “The Blues� by Michael Moreland; “Spanish Gypsy� by Don Menza; and “Birdland� by Joe Zawinul.
The McCracken County High School marching band performs at 7:15 a.m. on Saturday. The director for the program is John Lovell, Spencer Sullivan, and Derek Jones. The music selections include, “Heathens� by Twenty One Pilots; “No Time To Die� by Billie Eilish; “Sabotage� by Beastie Boys; and original material by Joshua Lyeda.
The Cape Girardeau Central High School marching band performs at 7:45 a.m. on Saturday. The director for the program is Josh LaMar. The music selections include, “Pavane� by Fauré; “Killer Queen� by Queen; and “Danserye: I. La Morisque� by Susato.
The event will conclude with a special performance by the Western Carolina University Pride of the Mountains Marching Band of the South.
Each performance will be judged with the highest-scoring performances advancing to the finals on Saturday evening where the champion will be named.
"Marching band is even more than music and performance; it's a powerful experience that builds discipline, teamwork, and lifelong memories,� says Dr. Jeremy Earnhart, President and CEO of Music for All, the parent organization for Bands of America. “Participating in Bands of America Championships takes that to the next level, challenging high school students to strive for excellence, showcase their talents on a national stage, and feel the pride of being part of something truly extraordinary.�
For more information and tickets, you can find that .
The Bands of America Grand National Championship is scheduled to take place on November 14-16 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
