Posted on Sep 12, 2006

Murray State University will once again be hosting one of the oldest and most prestigious marching band festivals of its kind in the South when the 29th annual Festival of Champions high school marching band competition takes the field in Stewart Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 16. More than 20 bands from throughout Kentucky, Missouri and Tennessee will compete in their classes. “These bands are representative of some of the finest in our region,” says Dennis L. Johnson, MSU director of bands. “Their appearance is certainly due, in part, to the quality and national reputation of the Festival of Champions. It is indeed a testimony to our festival that so many fine bands will travel such great distances to participate.” John Fannin, assistant director of bands and director of the university's Racer Band, agrees, adding, “the competition is filled with terrific bands and should provide a wonderful day of pageantry and excitement.” The competition will begin at 9:30 a.m. with the Class A bands and continues through Class AAAAA bands, concluding at 3:30 p.m. At that time, the MSU Racer Band will perform the first of two exhibitions during the festival. Classes are determined by school size. A panel of nationally distinguished judges will include the best band from each division, plus the bands holding the next seven highest overall scores, in the finals competition, which begins at 6 p.m. “This is a new procedure for us,” says Johnson. “We think having 12 bands instead of 10 in the finals will add to the excitement of the festival.” Following the finals competition, the MSU Racer Band will again perform. “It's exciting for our students to perform before so many wonderful bands and such an appreciative audience,” Fannin notes. Class A bands include: 9:30 a.m. Union City (TN) 9:45 a.m. Ballard Memorial (KY) 10 a.m. Murray High (KY) 10:15 a.m. Crittenden County (KY) 10:30 a.m. Cumberland County (KY) Class AA bands include: 11 a.m. Muhlenberg South (KY) 11:15 a.m. Caldwell County (KY) 11:30 a.m. Reidland High (KY) 11:45 a.m. Trigg County (KY) Class AAA bands include: 12:15 p.m. Lone Oak (KY) 12: 30 p.m. LaRue County (KY) 12:45 p.m. Elizabethtown (KY) Class AAAA bands include: 1 p.m. St. Charles West (MO) 1:15 p.m. Madisonville South (KY) 1:30 p.m. Calloway County (KY) 1:45 p.m. Ohio County (KY) 2 p.m. DeSoto High (MO) Class AAAAA bands include: 2:30 p.m. Clarksville (TN) 2:45 p.m. Arlington (TN) 3 p.m. Graves County (KY) 3:15 p.m. Daviess County (KY) Ticket prices are $6 for adults and $4 for children under 12 for either the preliminaries or the finals competition. A combination ticket that is good for both the day and evening competitions is available for $10 for adults and $6 for children under 12. Murray State students with a valid I.D. qualify for the reduced (children's) rates as well. General admission tickets can be purchased at the gate. Special group prices are available for organizations of more than 25 who reserve tickets in advance. Interested groups should contact Johnson at (270) 809-6456. Food, refreshments, special T-shirts, patches and souvenir programs will all be available for purchase at the stadium. For additional information about the 2006 Festival of Champions marching band competition, contact the university bands office at (270) 809-6450 from 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday or e-mail bands@murraystate.edu.