24th Annual Heart of America Marching Band Festival

The University of Kansas, Northeast Kansas Music Educators Association and Meyer Music are proud to host thirteen high school bands Saturday, Oct. 3, 2015 in their annual marching festival. This year’s bands range from division 1 to 4 and travel here from all over the state of Kansas and Nebraska. This competition will be judged by adjudicators who work with band programs across the nation. Heart of America Festival is well-known across the Midwest. Dr. Matt Smith, Director of KU’s Marching Jayhawks said, “Many schools plan their marching seasons around Heart of America. It provides the kids with a great opportunity to see what other schools are doing, put forth their best efforts to compete, and return to their high schools recharged and ready to build excitement on their home fields. The Marching Jayhawks hope that the high school competitors see them at the festival and decide to march on the field at Memorial Stadium.”

 

For those interested in attending the festival, the first performance begins at 1:15 p.m. at Memorial Stadium on the University of Kansas campus. Admission is $10 per adult, $5 for students and senior citizens; pre-school aged children are free. In addition to the great music and performances, there will be concessions and vendors available for food and souvenirs.

 

The competition schedule is as follows:

 

2:00 PM           Blue Valley Northwest

2:15 PM           Belton

2:30 PM           Lincoln North Star

2:45 PM           Shawnee Mission South

3:00 PM           Lawrence Free State

3:15 PM           Topeka West

3:45 PM           Holton

4:00 PM           Blue Valley North

4:15 PM           Shawnee Mission Northwest

4:30 PM           Derby

4:45 PM           Olathe South

5:00 PM           Lawrence

5:15 PM           Olathe East

5:45 PM           KU Marching Jayhawks

6:00 PM           Awards Ceremony 

 

For more information, contact Leslie O’Neil at loneil@ku.edu or 785-864-3367​.