By WKTV Staff
joanne@wktv.org
There will be plenty of music and moves on the field of Falcon Stadium, at East Kentwood High School, Saturday, Oct. 19, when the school hosts Michigan’s largest scholastic marching band competition, the EKHS Falcon Marching Band Invitational. An astounding 26 marching bands from across the state will perform and compete for top honors. Gates open for the event at 10:30 a.m., with awards being presented at 7 p.m.
Someone who has never attended a marching band competition can expect to see many performances like one sees at football game halftime shows. Bands are classified according to school size and compete in their respective classes (AA-D). Each band has its own chosen performance theme with related music.
The music runs the whole gamut of genres, from rock to classical, and they perform it with synchronized, choreographed movements, most of the time, integrating color guard performers with props too. This is no small task, when you consider some of these bands are in excess of 200 members. That’s a lot of moving parts and instruments! It’s so complex that many of the bands start rehearsing their show during summer vacation, in order to be ready in time for the competition season. The result is an elaborate, dynamic performance that is impressive to hear and watch.
The view should be spectacular too. East Kentwood boasts the highest vantage point of any high school stadium in West Michigan. A very important factor, considering when it comes to marching bands, the higher a person is in the stadium, the better the view of the performance.
People should plan to come out and spend the whole day at this family-friendly event. There will be plenty of food and drinks available at the concession stand, so spectators will not have to miss a single performance. Admission is just $8 for adults, $6 for students and seniors, and age five and under are free.
East Kentwood High School is located at 6230 Kalamazoo Ave. SE in Kentwood. All spectators should enter campus from the Kalamazoo Avenue entrance.
All proceeds from this event benefit the Kentwood middle and high school instrumental music programs.
Below is the performance line up for this huge event.
EKHS
Falcon Marching Band Invitational
11:00 Reading (D)
11:15 Decatur (D)
11:30 Dowagiac Union (D)
11:45 Bridgman (D)
12:00 Gobles (D)
Break
12:30 Oakridge (C)
12:45 Montague (C)
1:00 Brandywine (C)
1:15 Parchment (C)
1:30 Kelloggsville (C)
1:45 Lakewood (C)
2:00 Whitehall (C)
Break
2:45 Fremont (B)
3:00 Kenowa Hills (B)
3:15 Charlotte (B)
3:30 Spring Lake (B)
Break
4:15 Troy Athens (A)
4:30 Three Rivers (A)
4:45 Loy Norrix (A)
5:00 Kalamazoo Central (A)
5:15 Wyoming (A)
5:30 Vicksburg (A)
5:45 Portage Central (A)
Break
6:15 Grand Haven (AA)
6:30 Grand Ledge (AA)
6:45 East Kentwood (EXH)
7:00 Awards Ceremony
