Those looking for an exciting evening of music won’t have to go far this weekend.
The Tyrone Band Booster and Tyrone Golden Eagle Marching Band’s Tournament of Bands (TOB) competition is set to be held at Gray-Veterans Memorial Stadium. This year’s “Music in the Valley” is scheduled for Saturday at 7 p.m.
Stadium gates will open at 5:30 p.m. The show will begin at 7 p.m. and will be preceded by the playing of the National Anthem by the Tyrone Golden Eagle Marching Band at 6:50 p.m.
The performance will be directed by Tyrone Area’s new band director Aaron Patterson. He is originally from Carlisle and recently finished a graduate degree in saxophone performance at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. While completing his graduate degree, Mr. Patterson taught elementary instrumental music at Marion Center Area School District, south of Punxsutawney.
Also on the schedule for Saturday, music to be performed by the visiting bands will includes selections from critically-acclaimed Broadway musicals “Wicked” and “West Side Story,” Irving Berlin’s “Blue Skies,” Native American melodies, tunes from “Batman” and “The Incredibles,” classic film music and a fanfare. Tyrone’s performance will be their 2005 show, “Fascinatin’ Rhythms,” featuring “Bolero” and “At the Strongholds of En Gedi.”
According to a press release from Patterson, performing in Group I (bands with 35 musicians or less) will be Bellwood-Antis, Conemaugh Township, Windber, and Huntingdon Area schools. Group II (bands with 36 to 55 musicians) will feature Greater Johnstown, DuBois, and St. Marys Area schools. The evening will conclude with an exhibition performance by the Tyrone Golden Eagle Marching Band, directed by drum major Sarah Dane.
Awards will be given for high music, marching, percussion, auxiliary, and drum major as well as placement awards for bands in both classification groups. In addition, an award will be presented to the Chapter XI Outstanding Performer, sponsored by Sheetz, Inc. The awards ceremony will begin following Tyrone’s performance.
Patterson said the Tyrone community is invited to share in an enjoyable evening of entertainment and student talent. Tickets will be available at the main entrance beginning at 5:30 p.m. Tickets prices are $5 for general admission.
