UW, Troopers to Host Marching Band Invitational

Fourteen high school bands across Wyoming and the region will perform at the University of Wyoming Saturday, Oct. 9.

The event, hosted by UW’s Western Thunder Marching Band and co-sponsored by the Troopers Drum and Bugle Corps, begins at 10 a.m. at UW’s War Memorial Stadium. Each band will perform in a 12- to 15-minute time slot, followed by a Western Thunder Marching Band performance at about 2:30 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.

“The best thing about the UW/Troopers Invitational is that it is the only competitive marching band event in our state,” says Joseph Carver, director of the Western Thunder Marching Band. “This event combines bands from Colorado, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wyoming. It is a great way for bands to showcase what they have been working on throughout the season.”

According to Carver, this event allows high school students to play in a larger venue and learn from skilled adjudicators. Each band receives judges’ feedback in four different categories -- music, marching, percussion and auxiliary. “This helps bands to improve their performances for future events based on the constructive feedback,” Carver adds.

“If you are interested in music, this is a great opportunity to see a live performance,” says Brenton Church, Western Thunder drum captain from Cheyenne. “The bands have great energy and talent, so check it out.”

Wyoming bands represented are from Campbell County High School; Cheyenne Central High School; Cheyenne East High School; Cheyenne South High School; Douglas High School; Green River High School; Kelly Walsh High School in Casper; Rock Springs High School; Thunder Basin High School in Gillette; and Wheatland High School.

Other regional bands are from:

-- Colorado: Greeley Central High School and Windsor High School.

-- Nebraska: Ogallala High School.

-- South Dakota: Rapid City Stevens High School.

For more information about the marching band invitational, email Carver at jcarver4@uwyo.edu.