Seventeen high bands will participate during the Mid States Invitational at Columbus North High School on Saturday that is expected to draw thousands of visitors.
The event, which begins at 4:45 p.m., will bring high school bands from Indiana and Kentucky during the invitational that will serve as a fundraiser for the Sound of North, said Bill Stultz, North director of bands.
Proceeds from the event will help go toward the purchase of props, uniforms, transportation and other band-related expenses, he said.
The 70-member Columbus East High School Olympian Spirit marching band is among the schools who will participate and will perform at 7:30 p.m. Columbus East finished fourth in its class and eighth overall during last year’s competition.
North will participate in an exhibition as the invitational host and will perform at 9 p.m., Stultz said.
An estimated 3,000 to 5,000 people are expected to attend the event, said Amy Jackson, president of the Columbus North Band Booster club.
Jackson, whose son Connor is a North band member, said she enjoys seeing the performances.
“They put their heart and soul into the shows,” Jackson said.
East will perform its show, “Yellow and Blue Makes Green,” that blends the songs “Yellow” from British rock band Coldplay and “Rhapsody in Blue,” a 1924 piece by composer George Gershwin.
The Sound of North will feature its show, “Power Up,” during the exhibition that will feature 160 members of the marching band and the color guard as part of its performance that will mimic robots.
Stultz said the invitational is also an opportunity for schools to get judged on criteria such as effects of the music, how well band members march, their visuals and the color guard. It also helps prepare them for the remainder of the marching band season, he said.
Awards will be given to schools in each class beginning at 9:30 p.m. that evening. Each class is determined on the total number of members playing an instrument within each band during the show, Stultz said.
“It’s kind of a festival that all these bands will come and entertain the audience,” Stultz said. “It’s kind of a pageantry of music and color. It’s a great opportunity for the community to come out.”
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What: Columbus North Mid States Invitational
Where: Columbus North High School, 1400 25th St.
When: Saturday with performances set to begin at 4:45 p.m.; Columbus East Olympian Spirit marching band will perform at 7:30 p.m., while the Sound of North will perform an exhibition scheduled for 9 p.m.
Admission: $6 per person
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