Marching bands from all over Ohio made their way to Tecumseh High School on a beautiful, chilly Saturday night when the Tecumseh Marching Arrows Band Boosters held its 38th annual Showcase of Bands Marching Band Competition at Tecumseh’s Spitzer Stadium on Oct. 22.

According to Band Booster President, Janice Becker, twenty-one marching bands competed in a very successful 2016 competition.

“There are so many people who have helped us make this Showcase possible...we wouldn’t be able to do it if it wasn’t for them...the good weather also helps! We have great volunteers and amazing community support. A lot of local merchants and families helped provide food, trophies, and other things for the bands...it all helped us to make this night possible.”

Becker also says the generosity of the Tecumseh School District is a key to the success of the Showcase of Bands.

“The school district has been wonderful! Thanks to Danny Kimmel and the custodial staff has been helping keep things clean for us. The Transportation department has made more parking available for the busses, which has been a huge help...Paula Crew has helped us get things coordinated with the district too, plus she’s a band parent and is helping in the concession stand tonight as well.”

While Tecumseh’s veteran band and color guard parents are familiar with the event, there are also “newbie’s” who are impressed, if somewhat overwhelmed, by the scope of the Showcase of Bands.

Lyndsey Bays is the mother of freshman Color Guard member, Kaylee Wood. She and her daughter were helping in the Boosters’ Bake Sale booth trackside. Bays says her first Showcase of Bands surprised her, “I can’t believe how many bands there are, and they all sound great! There are also tons of volunteers and lots of work. But things are running so well you can tell (the Band Boosters) have done this for a long time. It’s great fun and I’m really enjoying it.”

Northwestern, Bethel, and Tecumseh’s Marching Bands all competed in the event.

Tecumseh Band Director, Melissa Willardson, says her students look forward to the locally-hosted competition. She explains that, although it does not win trophies at the Showcase of Bands, the band competes with itself and tries to improve on scores it has received earlier in the competition season. The ultimate goal is to earn a “Superior” rating by the end of the season so they can get a spot in the state finals.

The Tecumseh Marching Arrows accomplished this goal on their home turf Saturday night and will be competing in the upcoming Ohio State Marching Band competition.