Bands from throughout southwestern Arkansas will converge at Lakeside High School on Tuesday for the Arkansas School Band and Orchestra Association's Region II Marching Assessment.
Performances will begin at 3:30 p.m. on Austin Field with the only Class A band participating, Foreman. The Lake Hamilton High School Power Band of Arkansas, the only Class AAAAA band scheduled to perform, will play at 8:45 p.m.
"The Region Marching Assessment is a very big event for us and the other band programs in our region," said Rudy Villines, director of bands for the Lakeside School District.
"The feedback and ratings we get from the judges is valuable data in assessing the teaching and learning that is happening in our band. For our students at Lakeside, we also want to make our school and alumni proud by continuing a long tradition of superior ratings that stretch back two decades."
The Power Band and the Showband of Lakeside were among more than two dozen marching bands scheduled to compete Saturday in the Championship at the Rock at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock. Class AAAA performances are scheduled to begin at 7:45 p.m. with Hope and Arkansas High at 8 p.m.
The Hot Springs Marching Trojan Band and Showband will round out Class AAAA performances at 8:15 p.m. and 8:30, respectively. Hot Springs and Class AAA Malvern High School Leopard Marching Band and Fountain Lake Cobra Band also competed in Little Rock on Saturday. Malvern and Fountain Lake are scheduled to perform at 7 p.m. and 7:15 p.m., respectively.
Class AA times include the Legend of Jessieville at 3:45 p.m., Centerpoint at 4:30 p.m., Magnet Cove High School marching band at 4:45 p.m. and Bismarck High School marching band at 5:30 p.m.
Judges for the assessment will be Robert Hesse, Keith Rutledge and Joe Trusty. Ratings will be announced at 9 p.m.
"Hosting the event is an honor for Lakeside and we thank the Region II directors for the opportunity each year," Villines said. "It is a treat for our students because many of them volunteer to help in some capacity at the event.
"By helping, they get to meet other bands and students from across the region and help make their experience positive. We are also thankful to the many Lakeside band parents who help by working in the concession stand. The end of the night, when ratings are announced, is always a special and exciting time."
Bands will return to War Memorial Stadium on Oct. 30-31 for the 2017 ASBOA State Marching Assessment. The more than 60 bands in the state event is slated to include 17 of the bands from Region II.
Local on 10/23/2017