Lights. Music. Marching. One of the most exciting and uplifting nights of the marching band season is coming up Saturday, Oct. 17, when Parkside High School and the Parkside Band Boosters present the 2009 Delmarvacade of Bands at Wicomico County Stadium.
High school marching bands from throughout the region will fill Wicomico County Stadium that night with the exciting sights and sounds of their field show as bands tune up for the impending championship events.
Between bands, parents, and spectators, the Delmarvacade is expected to draw thousands of people to the stadium. Bands will compete starting at 6:30 p.m., with each band performing the kind of field show people are accustomed to seeing at halftime of football games. Each performance will last seven to 12 minutes, and a new band will take the field about every 15 minutes.
The event is sponsored by Parkside High School and its Band Boosters, with professional judges provided by the National Judges Association. Bands will be judged on every element of their field show, including both musical and visual elements, as well as the overall general effect of the show and its blending of music, marching, flags and rifles. Each band will receive a score based on a 100-point scale, and a trophy.
Bands will compete in four categories, depending on the number of instrumentalists in the band. James M. Bennett High is in Group 3. Parkside High and Wicomico High School are in Group 2 although Parkside, as host, will perform but will not be judged for placement. There will be an awards ceremony at the end of the night.
Marching bands often stay all evening, even after they have competed. "They support each other, even though they are rivals," says Gary Beauchamp, supervisor of fine and performing arts for Wicomico schools and the founder of the event in 1977. Students know they are competing not just against each other, but against their own previous performances, trying to make this one just a little bit better.
Admission to Delmarvacade of Bands is $5. A program detailing the participants, with a score sheet to keep track of how the bands are doing, is $5.
For information call Kevin Zaczkiewicz, Parkside High School band director, at (410) 677-5161.
DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
Thanks for posting this Joe. This sounds like its going to be fun. Both my husband and I were in our Marching units at school. I think we might just have to take a trip up to Salisbury for this.
ReplyDeleteThis is truly an amazing event. The talent that these bands display is just amazing. They put in a tremendous amount of time to learn their respective shows and put on wonderful performances. A must see event for sure.
ReplyDeleteAny child who is in a middle school or elementary band should see this amazing event. Talk about something to inspire them!
ReplyDeleteAs a parent of a senior I will miss the interaction with the wonderful band students. They show us what team work, understanding, support and just being there for each other is all about! Thanks to KZ and all of the Parkside Marching Rams for a wonderful experience!
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