Seventeen bands from across Oklahoma and Kansas will march around Alva’s downtown square during Northwestern Oklahoma State University’s Homecoming parade at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 1.
The Ranger marching band will join with the junior high and high school bands for a massed band performance set to begin at 3:35 p.m. on Ranger Field prior to the Ranger vs. East Central University football game set to kickoff at 4 p.m.
Northwestern band director Dr. Marc Decker is thrilled to have more bands participating this year.
“I’m delighted to share that we will have nearly 740 students marching in our homecoming parade this year,” Decker said. “In addition, almost all of them are able to stay for the football game and participate in a special pre-game performance playing alongside the Ranger marching band in what will be a memorable and enjoyable performance.”
Those bands and their directors, listed by classification, include:
Junior High – Chisholm Middle School, Richard Stallcup; Pioneer-Pleasant Vale Junior High, Sherri Lohmann; Southwestern Heights Junior High, Erika Clausing
Class 2A – Pioneer-Pleasant Vale High School, Sherri Lohmann; Cimarron High School, Adam Steuart; Garber High School, Jackson Anderson; Laverne High School, Hank Nichols; Ringwood High School, Kyle Stewart; Seiling High School, Danny Powers; Waukomis High School, Sean Newman; Waynoka High School, Erin Place
Class 3A – Alva High School, Cara Bradt; Chisholm High School, Randy Johnson; Fairview High School, Craig Krieger
Class 4A – Hugoton High School (Hugoton, Kansas), Amy Freeman
Class 5A – Woodward High School, Daci Crockett
Four of the directors leading their bands in the parade are Northwestern alumni. They include Bradt and Steuart, class of 2007; Crockett, class of 2004; Freeman, class of 2001; and Lohmann, class of 2000.
Northwestern’s Homecoming Parade competition and Massed Band performance are made possible by a generous donation from the Charles Morton Share Trust. The Ranger Band and all the participating students wish to thank the trustees for their support.