WAUKEE — A total of 26 bands performed Saturday in one of seven regional All-State Marching Band competitions.
Mount Ayr from Class 1A, Des Moines Christian, Earlham and West Central Valley from Class 2A and nine 3A bands took to the field, as did 13 bands from area 4A schools. Unlike some competitions, at All-State each band is competing only against themselves, and not in comparison with other programs.
ADM, Bondurant-Farrar, Carlisle, Clarke, DC-G, North Polk, Perry, Saydel and Winterset were the 3A schools striving to perform their best at Warrior Stadium.
Bands are observed by a panel of six judges based on written criteria produced by the Iowa High School Music Association. Up to 200 points can be awarded for music execution, music general effect, marching and maneuvering execution and marching and maneuvering general effect, with up to 100 points awarded for percussion and for color guard. Scores are then totaled and averaged.
ADM finished with a coveted Division 1 rating (the highest). The Marching Tigers played their way into the ADM instrumental music record book with an overall score of 73.3, the best in school history. Russell Braun is band director for ADM High School.
