JACKSON TO BECOME CITY OF BANDS ON TUESDAY

JACKSON -- It's slogan is "City of Beautiful Homes, Churches, Schools and Parks," but Jackson becomes the City of Bands for one day every fall.

On Tuesday, 19 high school bands will descend on Jackson for the 51st annual Jackson Band Festival. The bands are from big schools like Cape Central and little ones like Delta; some musicians march and others stand still.

Diversity is what makes the festival special, JHS band director Nick Leist said. For nearly three decades, Leist and other Jackson music teachers have organized the event, a mammoth task. For the past several years, Leist has coordinated with fellow teachers Pat Schwent and Scott Vangilder.

It all began in 1944 with JHS band director Leroy Mason. Seven bands performed that year, three more joined the next year, and the festival grew from there. Finally, in 1960, it split into two divisions.

Now it's in four divisions, with Jackson's being the largest. The other festivals are in Poplar Bluff, Kennett and Perryville.

Planning for them starts in early summer, when area schools must decide whether they will participate -- it's usually the same bunch every year. Then everyone must pick a general theme. This year, the high schoolers who play in Jackson will honor the 50th anniversary of the United Nations and President Harry Truman, the Missouri native who helped establish the peace-promoting group.

Every school decides which pieces to perform. While the festival isn't a competition, it gives competitive marching bands the opportunity to fine-tune routines in front of a receptive audience.

"We like it because it's local and easy for parents to attend," Cape Central band director Ron Nall said. "We're able to get out in front of all our friends and also get some new ideas."

Cape Central's marching band competes in four or five contests a year, but competition is put aside for the festival. Vangilder, the Jackson music teacher, said students and directors alike are more relaxed, and nobody wants to see mistakes.

"It's just educational," he said. "There's a nice, receptive audience, and it lets people know Southeast Missouri bands are alive and well."

Tuesday's activities will begin at 1:30 p.m. with a parade, for which Jackson High School dismisses classes. All 19 bands will start at the corner of South High and West Madison Streets, marching toward the Cape Girardeau County Courthouse. They will turn left on West Main Street, left again on Russell Street and end up back at the Jackson High School Gymnasium.

Individual performances on the football field begin at 6:30 p.m. After everyone is through, they all will join in performing the "United Nations March" and "Missouri Waltz." Admission to the field is $1 for children and $2 for adults.

BAND FESTIVAL

These bands will participate in the Jackson Band Festival, which begins at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday:

Advance High School

Bell City High School

Cape Central Freshmen

Cape Central High School

Charleston High School

Chaffee High School

Delta High School

East Prairie High School

Jackson Chiefs

Jackson Freshmen

Kelly High School

Oran High School

Oak Ridge High School

Puxico High School

Scott City High School

Scott County Central High School

Sikeston Freshmen

Sikeston High School

Woodland High School