Terryn Hardy

Staff Writer

The School of Performing  Arts and the Bengal Marching Band hosted the Mountain West Marching Band Invitational at Holt Arena on October 14. The event is an annual event and is a good recruiting tool for the university.

This invitational draws rural bands with no experience and large schools with a lot of experience. Schools from Idaho, Utah, and Nevada came to compete in the competition. The judges of this competition are experts in their fields and come from all –  over the west.

This year the Gem State Award, an award given to the top performing school from Idaho, was awarded to Madison High School in Rexburg.

Some schools, such as Grace High School, have Marching programs that are just starting out and the Mountain West competition if the first taste of competitive marching performance. For others, like Century, Pocatello, and Highland High School, the competition is just a way to showcase their marching show in front of peers and family without too much distance to cover.

Each band had unique taste and style for their show. The energy in the room is almost palpable.

Even embracing the snow and cold, bands had a good experience highlighting their show and school as well as getting to know the ISU campus.