Geneseo welcomes bands Saturday for Maple Leaf Classic

High school marching bands from near and far, from Illinois and Iowa, will head to Geneseo on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, to compete in the 34th Annual Maple Leaf Marching Band Classic at Bob Reade Field.

The event features 16 teams competing in four classes, along with exhibition performances by The Sound of Geneseo and the University of Wisconsin Marching Band.

The Geneseo Middle School marching band opens the event at 2:30 p.m.

Competition begins at 2:45 p.m. with five teams in Class 1A: Orion (2:45), ROWVA (3 p.m.), El Paso-Gridley (3:15), Streator Township (3:30) and Monmouth-Roseville (3:45).

Rock Falls kicks off Class 2A at 4 p.m., followed by Kewanee (4:15), Macomb (4:45) and Dunlap (5 p.m.)

Class 3A features Rochelle Township at 5:15 p.m., followed by United Township at 5:45 and Limestone Community at 6 p.m.

Two more Quad-Cities schools compete in Class 4A, Davenport Central at 6:15 and Rock Island at 6:45. In between those two is Quincy at 6:30, and Washington Community rounds out the competition at 7 p.m.

The Sound of Geneseo takes the field at 7:20, followed by the University of Wisconsin at 7:50 and awards at 8:30.

Teams are judged on a variety of criteria, and there are awards for Best Drum Major, Best Auxiliary, Best Drum Line, Best Music, Best Visual and Best General Effect.

El Paso-Gridley won last year's Class 1A competition, while Orion was second, and Dunlap was crowned champion in 2A. Last year's competition attracted 13 schools.

Admission is $10 for adults, $5 for students and seniors, and free for those ages 5 and under.

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