By Mike Greife,
October 10, 2016
WARRENSBURG, MO – Talented young musicians and performers representing 29 high schools
from Missouri and Kansas will participate in the 2016 Festival of Champions as the
University of Central Missouri Department of Music hosts the annual marching band
and drum line competition Saturday, Oct. 15.
Preliminary marching band competition begins at 9:15 a.m. on Vernon Kennedy Field
at Audrey J. Walton Stadium. After lunch from 12:30 to 1:30 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 1:30 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 Braymer, Clinton,
Fort Zumwalt West, Knob Noster, Lee’s Summit, Lee’s Summit North, Liberty, Parkway
North, Platte County, Raytown South, Smithton, Smith-Cotton, Staley, Tipton, Truman,
Van Horn, Warrensburg, Warsaw, William Chrisman, Windsor C-1 and Winfield.
Kansas schools competing include Blue Valley Southwest, Olathe Northwest, Olathe South,
Shawnee Mission East, Shawnee Mission North, Shawnee Mission Northwest, Shawnee Mission
South and Topeka West.
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 2016 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, Pep Wear, the Ararat Shrine/Houn’ Dawg Club,
Sabian Cymbals and Vic Firth Sticks and Mallets.
For more information about the 2016 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.
