Published: October 06, 2009 08:31 pm      

UCO festival to feature 22 state high school bands

EDMOND — Fans who appreciate the half-time performance as much as the game itself will enjoy the University of Central Oklahoma Invitational Marching Band Festival “Stampede Showdown” from 9:45 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Saturday in UCO’s Wantland Stadium.

The fifth-annual, day-long festival will feature 22 high school bands from across the state, including marching bands from Bartlesville, Sallisaw, Tulsa, Ponca City and Edmond.

“The bands will play classical, jazz, opera, Broadway music — you name it — to stuff you have never heard in your entire life. Some of these bands get very creative,” said David Hanan, UCO associate director of bands.

Hanan said the judges will evaluate the bands on individual and ensemble performance as well as general effectiveness.

The finals, which will feature the top 12 bands, will begin at 7 p.m. The night will conclude with an exhibition by the 125-member UCO “Stampede of Sound” Marching Band.

Hanan said this festival is larger than last year’s partly because many bands are using their performance at the festival as a final opportunity to perfect their technique prior to the state championships later in October.

“The festival is the last competition the larger schools can go to before the state contests, so this will be a great opportunity to see them at their absolute best,” Hanan said.

Tickets are available at the gate the day of the festival. An all-day adult pass is $10. Children ages 5 to 12 are $7. Adult tickets to the finals are $7 and $5 for children 5 to 12. Children 4 and younger are free.

For a complete schedule of UCO College of Arts, Media & Design performances and events, visit www.camd.uco.edu/events.