Marching Band Festival Tonight at Royal Oak High School

Marching bands from throughout the region will showcase their skills at the District IV Michigan School Band & Orchestra Association (MSBOA) Festival beginning at 5 p.m. today at . The last band will perform at 7:30 p.m.

This is the first year Royal Oak High School has hosted the event. Bands will be judged on music, marching and showmanship and a final rating is given. Each band has a 15 minute block of time to enter the field, perform its show and exit the field.

"We are excited to offer our beautiful facility to our neighboring schools," ROHS Music Director David Jensen said. "The artificial turf supports technical marching skills, and because the stands are concrete, the sound is contained beautifully. Best of all, no running track (around the field) puts the audience that much closer to the action. It's ideal in every way."

Like all MSBOA festivals, this event and parking are free and open to the public.

"The concession stand will be open and loaded with lots of goodies, and the weather will be beautiful," Jensen said. "This is a Michigan fall outdoor activity at its finest."

In addition to Royal Oak, participants include bands from 10 area high schools: Stoney Creek, Berkley, Lahser, Andover, Southfield-Lathrup, South Lyon, Southfield, Walled Lake Western, Waterford-Kettering and Walled Lake Northern.

"This is a wonderful community event that showcases what our young people can do with a lot of practice and hard work," said Kathleen Otruba, president of Royal Oak's Band & Orchestra Boosters.

If you go

The Royal Oak High School stadium is on the northeast side of the school, best accessed off Normandy Road and east of Crooks.

Performance schedule:

• 5 p.m. - Rochester Hills Stoney Creek High School Cougar Marching Band
• 5:15 p.m. - Berkley High School Marching
• 5:30 p.m. - Bloomfield Hills Lahser High School Marching Knights
• 5:45 p.m. - Bloomfield Hills Andover High School Marching
• 6 p.m. - Southfield-Lathrup High School Charger Marching Band
• 6:15 p.m. - South Lyon East High School Cougar Marching Band
• 6:30 p.m. - Royal Oak High School Marching Band
• 6:45 p.m. - Southfield High School Marching Blue Jays
• 7 p.m. - Walled Lake Western High School Warrior Marching Band
• 7:15 p.m. - Waterford-Kettering High School Marching Captains
• 7:30 p.m. - Walled Lake Northern High School Marching Knights

Pricing: The event and parking are free and open to the public.

Concessions: Food and beverages will be available for purchase.

Hot dogs  
Pizza 
Chips
Candy
Brownies/cookies 
Popcorn
Pop/water 
Coffee 
Hot chocolate 
Apple cider
Doughnuts