CENTRAL BAND COMPETES IN ST. LOUIS

The Cape Girardeau Central High Marching Band will face its toughest competition this weekend at Busch Stadium in St. Louis. A first or second place finish at the marching band contest would make 1992 the band's best competitive season ever.

Mike Shivelbine, president of band boosters, invites area residents to attend the show, which will feature more than 40 bands from Missouri and Illinois.

This marks the final weekend of a month-long competitive season for the band.

"This is the largest competition Central will compete in," said Shivelbine. "We'd like to see a couple hundred supporters in Busch Stadium Saturday."

Shivelbine said local support can make a big difference. "It should be impressive to see the students march at Busch Stadium with the big screen TV going. It's the toughest contest they'll be in and they need all the support they can get."

Central High School will perform at 2:45 p.m. Admission at the Busch Stadium contest is $6. The day begins at 9 a.m. and bands will compete until 9 p.m.

Band director Ron Nall said, "This is one of the best bands we've ever had here, maybe the best one."

The band includes 114 members this year.

At last year's competition at Busch, Central finished third.

"Anyone whose interested in seeing quality marching band entertainment should attend," Shivelbine said. "The competition is really exciting. These kids give all they've got to impress the judges. It's also a good chance to see quality programs from across the state and other states as well."

The St. Louis competition is divided by size of bands. Central will compete in the silver division, which is the next to largest bands. Central will be judged on how well they perform, quality of music and overall general effect, he said.

Nall said 12 bands will compete in Central's division; bands with 78 to 99 playing members will compete.

"We will perform a 10-minute show," Nall said. "We work on it all year to make it better and better.

"When we look at this year's list of competitors, we have some very tough competition. There are about six band in our class that are very fine bands," Nall said.

"We have done well all season," said Nall.

Last weekend, the band performed well at Flat River in a very close competition, Shivelbine said. Central placed second, finishing behind Wentzville by just 9/10ths of a point. The Central percussion and auxiliary units were also chosen outstanding in their class.

"All those who attended Flat River couldn't help but be thrilled for the kids and impressed with the way they handled themselves. They have been working very, very hard," Shivelbine said.

About 20 parents accompanied the group to Flat River last weekend. Nall said between 20 and 30 parents have been attending all the competitions.

On Oct. 3, Central's band placed second in a competition at Washington. The flag corps and drum majors earned a first place trophy. The percussion section tied for third place.

On Oct. 10, the band placed third, this time competing with larger bands.

"The band has done very well," Nall said.

"It's like being on a team," Nall said. "We practice three afternoons after school and have a two-week camp in the summer."

The marching band competitive season comes during the football season. The band also performs for each home game.

"We use the show or variety of the show at the home football games," Nall said.

But he said the band often performs better during competitions than at football games.

"When we go to contests, we are the main attraction," he said. "At a football game, we are the half-time entertainment.

"A lot of people, if they are not a band parent, never see this aspect of band," Nall said. "We think it's a great activity for the kids."

Following this weekend's performance, the band will perform in the Southeast Missouri State University Homecoming parade and at the last Central home football game.