34 of the best Midwest marching bands to compete at Youth in Music in Minneapolis

For 20 years, the Youth in Music Marching Band Championships has brought together high school marching bands from across Minnesota and the Upper Midwest. This year’s gathering on Oct. 12 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis showcases 34 high school ensembles and two college bands, one of the biggest assemblies in the event’s history.

All competing bands will be looking to topple the Rosemount High School Marching Band, which has dominated the AAAA class for years, including the past seven as overall champion of Youth in Music.

“They are the band to beat,” Youth in Music founder Brent Turner said. “They’re the favorite in the state and well-known in national competition, as well.”

Rosemount’s main competition the past few years, Lincoln High School of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, is skipping this year’s event because it will be playing in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

“The band that’s usually with them knocking on the door is gone this year, but there still are pretty good bands that will compete with them in many categories,” he said — citing Eastview High School of Apple Valley and Brandon Valley of South Dakota as examples.

“We are in a hotbed of marching arts talent, and every student, parent and instructor is working hard to put on amazing shows,” said Rosemount director Calvin Lipetzky, who conducted ensembles at Brandon Valley before taking the job with the Marching Irish. “This YIM is going to be highly competitive since so many bands are operating at a very high level.”

Rosemount is second only to Champlin Park High School in number of years participating in the championships. What memory stands out to Lipetzky?

“It would be difficult to pick just one,” he said. “As a teacher, I love seeing students from different bands wish each other luck in the tunnel before stepping onto that amazing field. As a student, my favorite memory was when I almost missed my name being announced as a YIM scholarship recipient since I was loading our band trailer. My mom won’t let me forget that one!”

Out-of-state bands hailing from South Dakota, Wisconsin and Nebraska make up nearly half of the competition. Omaha’s Millard West High School has consistently placed highly and has made it a priority to return every year, director John Keith said.

“Youth In Music is a very well-run competition in an outstanding performance venue.  It is a great experience for our students to perform in the Vikings’ stadium, as well as see other outstanding bands from around the region that we otherwise would not have the opportunity to see,” he said. “The crowd is very supportive of all performing bands.  This competition is one of the favorites of our students every year.”

Keith expanded on that sentiment.

“My favorite thing is seeing the look of excitement on our students’ faces when they enter the field to perform, especially the students who have not performed in the venue before,” he said. “It's just such a cool experience for them, something they will never forget.”

The 34 high school marching bands will compete in four classes starting at 7 a.m. and going to about 5 p.m. The top 10 bands will return to compete in the finals at 7:15 p.m. Exhibition performances will be presented by the marching bands of the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse and North Dakota State University during the day and by the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire’s Blugold Marching Band at night.

Besides the musical performances, Youth in Music bestows several awards and scholarships. This year’s Hall of Fame inductee, who according to the group’s criteria “had a profound and positive impact on the marching arts in our region,” is Hastings High School director Emily Chandler, who has conducted the Raiders Marching Band for 20 years.

New is an award for volunteer of the year named for super-volunteer John Hueg, who died in July. Turner said the award will be given annually, along with another new set of awards honoring school administrators who support the arts.

The scholarships (two from each size-based class) are in the process of being determined. Turner and his team are combing through an expected 90 applications, all from seniors.  

“It’s very meaningful to get a sneak peak into what’s been so special about being in band, why they’re in it and what they’ve gotten out of it,” he said. “That’s what we really want to do, is spark kids.”

Youth in Music lineup

Here is the schedule of who’s competing and when for those interested in attending the Youth in Music Marching Band Championships in person at U.S. Bank Stadium on Oct. 12. YourClassical MPR will present a photo gallery of the day’s performances on Monday, Oct. 14, so be sure to come back here after the show.

Note: All are Minnesota high schools unless noted otherwise.

• Lennox (S.D.): 7 a.m.

  

• West Central (S.D.): 7:15 a.m.

• Osseo: 7:30 a.m.

• Hutchinson: 7:45 a.m.

• Harrisburg (S.D.): 8 a.m.

• Blaine: 8:15 a.m.

• Andover: 8:30 a.m.

• Lourdes: 8:45 a.m.

• Minnetonka: 9 a.m.

• Coon Rapids: 9:15 a.m.

• Anoka: 9:30 a.m.

• St. Croix Central (Wis., exhibition): 9:45 a.m.

• Sioux Falls O’Gorman (S.D.): 10 a.m.

• Baldwin-Woodville (Wis.): 10:15 a.m.

• Onalaska (Wis.): 10:30 a.m.

• Chippewa Falls (Wis.): 10:45 a.m.

• Mankato 77 Lancers: 11 a.m.

• Brookings (S.D.): 11:15 a.m.

• Sioux Falls Roosevelt (S.D.): 11:30 a.m.

• Waseca: 11:45 a.m.

• Hastings: Noon

• Champlin Park: 12:15 p.m.

• University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, exhibition: 12:30 p.m.

• Class A and AA awards: 12:45 p.m.

• Papillion-La Vista South (Neb.): 1:15 p.m.

• River Falls (Wis.): 1:30 p.m.

• Lakeville South: 1:45 p.m.

• Farmington: 2 p.m.

• Irondale: 2:15 p.m.

• Eden Prairie: 2:30 p.m.

• Marshall: 2:45 p.m.

• Millard North (Neb.): 3 p.m.

• Greendale (Wis.): 3:15 p.m.

• Brandon Valley (S.D.): 3:30 p.m.

• Millard West (Neb.): 3:45 p.m.

• Eastview: 4 p.m.

• Rosemount: 4:15 p.m.

• North Dakota State, exhibition: 4:30 p.m.

• Class AAA and AAAA awards: 4:45 p.m.