10/26/2005

Contact: K.E. Schwab  -- 724-738-2199;  e-mail: karl.schwab@sru.edu

UP TO 1,500 MUSICIANS TO VISIT SRU FOR ‘ROCK SHOWCASE OF CHAMPIONS’ NOV. 5

      SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – Up to 1,500 regional high school band musicians will visit Slippery Rock University Nov. 5 for the first-ever “The Rock Showcase of Champions” featuring the top seven bands from southwestern Pennsylvania in the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Marching Band Association Championships and the top seven bands in the northwestern Pennsylvania Lakeshore Marching Band Association Championships.

       The top seven will be decided at this Saturday’s [Oct. 29] competitions held in Elizabeth for the southwestern bands and Erie for the northwestern.

      SRU will host the 1:30 p.m. event in N. Kerr Thompson Stadium, including an exhibition performance by the Slippery Rock Area High School Marching Rockets under direction of Les Fine. The day will conclude with a performance by the SRU Marching Pride, directed by James Berry, assistant professor of music.

      “This is the first multi-circuit festival in western Pennsylvania, “ Berry explains, noting it will allow parents, family members and band supporters to see the best highs school bands in the western portion of the state. “This non-competitive format helps us celebrate the best of competitive marching band in exhibition in western Pennsylvania.”

        Gates open at 12:30 p.m. Tickets are $7 for adults; $4 for students.

PN, WPN, PGN, PR

Bands.kes.doc