Merrill residents might be hearing a lot of music around town this weekend. The Merrill High School Band and the Merrill Band Booster Association will be hosting their annual Marching Band Invitational on Sunday, Oct. 4 at Jay Stadium beginning at 1 p.m.
Three bands will be in Merrill to showcase their musical creativity, including the high school bands from Antigo, D.C. Everest, and our very own Merrill Marching Jays.
Bands are critiqued and scored based on visual presentation (general effect and execution) and musical presentation (general effect and execution). Points are also included for each band’s percussion and color guard performances. Each band will perform a show that is approximately seven to 10 minutes in length. To culminate the show, the bands will come together to perform as a combined ensemble.
In conjunction with the Marching Invitational, the Merrill Band Endowment will be partnering with Chip’s Hamburgers to hold a fundraiser on Oct. 4. From 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. that day, Chip’s will be donating a portion of their sales to the Endowment. The Merrill Band Endowment uses this money to provide scholarships to music students to further their music studies.
“We hope to see you on Oct. 4 to enjoy a great afternoon of marching bands,” said MHS band director Kevin Short. “Come see the various styles, sounds, and presentations of these great bands …See how you would score them.”
Admission fee is $5. In case of rain, there will be “stand-still” performances held in the MHS Fieldhouse.