MSU Band to perform at Alamodome
The Midwestern State University Marching Band has been invited to perform a marching exhibition at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas on Monday, November 5, 2007 at 5 p.m. for the marching bands competing in the UIL State Marching Band Contest (SMBC). Only two university marching bands from across Texas are invited to perform at the contest each year. The other exhibition marching band is from Texas State University in San Marcos, who will be performing on Tuesday, November 6. At least 10,000 people are expected to attend.
Each year, high-school marching bands from across Texas compete first at the region level, then the area level, to advance to the State Marching Band Contest. The state-level competition takes place over two days in San Antonio. This is the first time the MSU Marching Band has been selected to perform at the SMBC. Mr. George Strickland, assistant to UIL music director Richard Floyd, had the opportunity to see the MSU Marching Band perform last October in Wichita Falls at the UIL Region Marching Contest. It was his recommendation that the MSU Marching Band perform at the SMBC.
The MSU Marching Band has grown to nearly 130 members. The Marching Band began in 1988 under the direction of Dr. Larry Archambo and Alan Black. This year the band is celebrating their 20th year of marching and service to the university. The band is rehearsing 32 hours each week before classes begin.