Panther Marching Band Has Two Competitions Saturday

Hall of Famer Ernie Banks of the Chicago Cubs always said "let's play two" before a game and this year high school band director Jim DePriest echos that sentiment as the Panther Marching Band will have a "doubleheader" October 15 as they will participate in two competitions.

The day will start by traveling to Muscatine High School for the State Marching Band Festival, sponsored by the Iowa High School Music Association, where they will try for the 28th consecutive Division I rating.

Then early in the afternoon the band will travel south to Quincy, Illinois for the Quincy Octoberfest Marching Band Field Competition.

In Muscatine, the Mt. Pleasant Band is scheduled to perform at 11:55 AM in Class 3A competition.  In Quincy, the band is slated to take the field at 8:00 PM. The group is expected to be back home after midnight.

The marching season will come to an end next Tuesday night when they will perform their show for the final time at All Bands Night on Evans Field at Mapleleaf Athletic Complex. Seniors, along with their parents, will be recognized. Also performing will be the 5th grade band, 6th grade band, and the 7th/8th grade Middle School Band.

This year's high school show is titled "The Race", an original composition by Jim DePriest based on a poem by D.H. Groberg. DePriest has led the high school instrumental department for 19 years. He is assisted during marching season by his wife Marlene, the Middle School vocal director, who directs the Color Guard, and by elementary band director Adam Creager.

For more informations about the school district's music programs go to www.mpmusic.org