Source: Frank Tracz, 785-532-3818, fracz@k-state.edu
News release prepared by: Andrew Morris, 785-532-2535, media@k-state.edu

Friday, Sept. 3, 2010

K-STATE HOSTS BAND DAY FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS FROM ACROSS THE STATE

MANHATTAN -- Almost 2,000 students from high schools around the state will join the Kansas State University Marching Band on the football field as part of K-State's annual Band Day Saturday, Sept. 11.

Students from 21 high schools bands will have the opportunity to march through Manhattan and perform with the K-State Marching Band during the halftime show of the K-State vs. Missouri State football game at Bill Snyder Family Stadium. The game starts at 6:10 p.m.

"Band Day was designed to bring a lot of high school bands together into a collegiate atmosphere and play at halftime," said Frank Tracz, director of bands at K-State. "It's a great recruiting tool for us, and a great recruiting tool for the university. It's a wonderful opportunity to show K-State hospitality and show the high school students what we're all about."

The high school bands will be part of the Band Day Parade at 1 p.m. The bands, including flag squads, dance squads and twirlers, will line up in the parking lot of K-State's McCain Auditorium, march through Aggieville and then head down Poyntz Avenue to the Manhattan Town Center.

At the halftime show the bands will play such classics as "You Keep Me Hangin' On," "Sweet Caroline" and "Brown Eyed Girl," as well as traditional Band Day favorites "God Bless America," "1812 Overture" and "Wildcat Victory."

Participating schools include: Northern Heights High School, Allen; Bucklin High School; Cimarron High School; Chase County High School, Cottonwood Falls; Council Grove High School; St. Mary Catholic School, Derby; El Dorado High School; Ellsworth High School; Great Bend High School; Hill City High School; Humboldt High School; Junction City High School; Linn High School; Manhattan High School; Neodesha High School; Blue Valley Southwest High School, Overland Park; Peabody-Burns High School; Rock Creek High School, St. George; Silver Lake High School; Hayden High School, Topeka; and Wichita Collegiate School.