🥁Band Festival Royalty and Drum Majors to Honor Meredith Willson

MASON CITY, IA – In honor of Meredith Willson’s birthday and the upcoming North Iowa Band Festival, Band Festival royalty from Mason City High School and Newman Catholic High School will visit Willson’s memorial in Elmwood Cemetery. Drum Majors from both schools will also be present as the students share Willson’s accomplishments and family heritage. A short program will take place on Willson’s birthday at 2PM on Thursday, May 18 at his gravesite.

The North Iowa Band Festival began as a simple celebration of North Iowa’s musical heritage. Now, in its eighth decade, it has grown to a large community festival, complete with a parade, variety of entertainment, marching band competitions, and carnival held over Memorial Day weekend.

Kylie Trappe and Marshall Hackbart were selected as queen and king at Mason City High School, and Leah O’Connell and Andrew Arthur were elected as royalty from Newman Catholic High School. These students will promote Band Festival activities and also host royalty candidates from the other schools in the marching band competition. Drum majors Will Read and Alex Shipman (MCHS) and Sage Wagner (Newman) will lead their bands in the big parade on Saturday, May 27.

For information on the upcoming North Iowa Band Festival, visit www.nibandfest.com.