MMS, MHS bands to perform
The strong Marion Middle School and Marion High School bands have two performances this week at Marion Municipal Auditorium.
Both concerts are free and open to the public. The auditorium now is air conditioned.
MMS and sixth grade bands perform at 7 p.m. Thursday.
The concert will conclude with a presentation of the MMS band's routine which will be performed Friday at the McPherson All School's Day parade. The band earned a I rating earlier this year at the Cottonwood Valley Junior League instrumental music festival, the 17th time in the past 20 years.
The high school concert band and jazz ensemble perform at 7:30 p.m. Saturday.
The jazz ensemble will feature a selection of jazz-rock music. The ensemble also will perform June 1 at Chingawassa Days.
The concert band will include its state music festival selections, "High Plains Concert March" and "Havendance." The band received a I rating at state for the ninth consecutive year.
Also featured will be an oboe solo by Stacia Williams, who has received a I rating at state all four years.
This has been an outstanding year for the MHS band. Twice they have been invited to open concerts at universities. On March 13, they performed four selections at a concert with the Kansas State University Symphonic Winds. They were featured April 4 with the Friends University Symphonic Band and the University Concert Percussion Ensemble.
"Both are considered among the finest university bands, so it was truly an honor to be invited to perform with such prestigious groups," said instructor Mike Connell.
