By Mike Greife,
October 7, 2015
WARRENSBURG, MO - Young musicians and performers representing 32 high schools from
Missouri and Kansas will participate in the 2015 Festival of Champions as the University
of Central Missouri Department of Music hosts the annual marching band and drum line
competition Saturday, Oct. 17.
Preliminary marching band competition begins at 9 a.m. on Vernon Kennedy Field at
Audrey J. Walton Stadium. After lunch from 12:15 to 1:15 p.m., preliminary competition
resumes. The UCM Marching Mules will perform at 5 p.m., followed by the preliminary
awards presentation at 5:30 p.m. Finals competition begins at 7p.m., with final awards
scheduled for approximately 10 p.m.
Indoor drum line competition begins at 9:15 a.m. in the Student Recreation and Wellness
Center, followed by indoor guard competition, which begins at 1:40 p.m., also in Student
Recreation and Wellness Center. For a full schedule and the performance time of each
school, visit ucmo.edu/music/bands/FOC.
Missouri schools registered to compete in varied events include Aurora, Blue Springs
South, Branson, Bunceton, Clinton, Fort Zumwalt West, Harrisonville, Highland, Knob
Noster, Lafayette County C-1, Lee’s Summit, Lee’s Summit North, Northwest Hughesville,
Platte County, Pleasant Hill, Raymore Peculiar, Raytown South, Sherwood, Smithton,
Southern Boone County, Tipton, Truman, Van Horn, Warrensburg, William Chrisman, Windsor
and Winfield.
Kansas schools competing include Blue Valley Southwest, Olathe Northwest, Olathe South,
Shawnee Mission North and Shawnee Mission Northwest.
The public is invited to attend all events. Admission is $13 for general admission
and $5 for drum line and auxiliary events. Children under the age of six are admitted
free. All proceeds will benefit the UCM Department of Music Scholarships Fund and
the Ararat Shrine Temple Hospital Transportation Fund.
The 2015 Festival of Champions is hosted by the UCM Department of Music, the Department
of Music Wind and Percussion areas, and the UCM Bands. Primary sponsors for the event
are Meyer Music, Midwest Marching.com, the Ararat Shrine/Houn’ Dawg Club, Evans Drum
Heads, Sabian Cymbals and Vic Firth Sticks and Mallets.
For more information about the 2015 Festival of Champions, contact Ernest Jennings,
Festival of Champions coordinator, at 660-543-8508, or visit the Festival of Champions
website at ucmo.edu/music/bands/FOC.
