Saturday is a long day of marching band in Melissa. The University Interscholastic League's Area B contest for Class 5A runs from morning until late at night on Oct. 24 at Coach Kenny Deel Stadium, 3030 Milrany Lane, and the home band is one of the contestants.
The performance schedule posted by the Region 20 music organization, which is running the event, lists 23 high school bands in the preliminary round. Anna High School opens the day at 9:45 a.m. and McKinney North closes the morning-to-afternoon session at 4:45 p.m.
In between come bands from Denison, Sherman, Celina, Lovejoy, Community, The Colony, Argyle, Denton and Ryan high schools, along with a long list of Frisco campuses including Lone Star, Emerson, Memorial, Reedy, Liberty, Heritage and Panther Creek.
Melissa's slot
The Mighty Cardinal Band, led by Director of Bands Kevin McNulty, is scheduled to take the field at 2 p.m. Melissa ISD said the band earned straight Division I ratings, with all three judges giving the top score, at the UIL Region 25 marching contest held at the same stadium on Wednesday, Oct. 21.
Finals at night
Ten bands move on to an evening finals round. The posted schedule has the first finalist performing at 7:45 p.m. and the 10th at 10:15 p.m., followed by a drum major retreat and the announcement of results. A five-member panel of current and retired band directors and instructors is listed to judge.
Tickets are $9 per person and are sold through the district's link at melissaisd.org/band-area. If weather forces a postponement, UIL lists Monday, Oct. 26, as the rain date at the same stadium.
