MARSHALL — Twenty high school bands will take the field for the 23rd annual Pursuit of Excellence Southwest Minnesota Marching Festival today at the Regional Event Center at Southwest Minnesota State University.

One of the highlights is Marshall High School’s judged exhibition performance of “The Bells” slated to begin at 10:40 p.m. According to MHS band director Wayne Ivers, the show’s title is based on the poem “The Bells” by Edgar Allen Poe.

“It is really exciting to see the students work so hard and have everything come together for an awesome day and performance,” Pursuit committee member Jill Schroeder said. “People in attendance can expect great music and entertainment.”

SMSU’s Mustang pep band, under the direction of John Ginocchio, will also give an exhibition performance, at 8:15 p.m.

Gates open at 4:30 p.m, with the competition starting at 5:30 p.m. Cost is $10.

Lennox High School (South Dakota) will be the first to perform in the Gold Class, followed by Bishop Heelan from Sioux City, Iowa, Madison High School (South Dakota), Anoka, Harrisburg (South Dakota) and Hastings.

“There are 20 bands in competition this year and we had to turn away four due to the length of the competition,” Ivers said. “We are very happy to have Irondale High School and Rosemount High School back in competition this year. We also have bands new to the competition — Lennox, West Central from Hartford, South Dakota — as well as so many who travel to Marshall every year.”

The Crimson Class begins to take the field at 7 p.m., starting with West Central. Staggered every 15 minutes, the other class competitors — Huron (South Dakota), Sibley Ocheyedan (Iowa), West Lyon (Iowa) and Mitchell (South Dakota) — will then present their shows.

“It is every band’s intent that they bring the story of their show to life through their music, movement and props, if they have them,” Ivers said. “Some bands use music with titles that tell specific parts of their show, some pick music that sets a mood even though the title has nothing to do with the theme of the show, and some, like Marshall, have totally original music written for their show.”

Ivers said all of the elements put together “produces a varied and extremely total package for the listening and viewing audience.” The hope is to evoke a positive response from them. “After all, it comes down to entertainment,” he said.

Ivers said some of the show titles include: “Interstellar Message,” “The Children of Lir” based on Irish Folklore, “The Fire Inside You,” “Stagecoach” — with a complete stagecoach on the field — “Legends of Rock,” “Loved and Lost” and “The Wild.”

“As always, the field shows that are being presented by the bands are quite varied,” Ivers said. “Most shows, including Marshall’s, are in the planning stages for many months prior to the start of practice. Some even start work on the following year’s show in November.”

Schroeder said planning for the overall event starts shortly after the completion of the Festival each year.

“You can say that it’s an ongoing event to work on,” she said. “Each of the committee members is in charge of different areas and so their expertise in those areas are utilized year after year.”

Schroeder said it might surprise people to know that the majority of committee members don’t even have current band students.

“For example, my son graduated in 2013 and I have still have working on the committee even after he has been done with the program,” Schroeder said. “We just feel so strongly about the program that we want to see it continue. We enjoy working with Wayne Ivers, John Ginocchio and the music department to make this a successful program for everyone.”

Ivers said nearly all the bands begin rehearsals in the summer.“Most have extended practices and some with a band camp that may even be out of town at a college or church camp,” he said. “This allows them to get the members to really spend a concentrated effort to learn their music and field drill.”

Oftentimes, there are additions or changes to the show once the competitive season has begun.

“In the past, we have added movement, we have changed or added music and we have even cut a big portion out of our show based on what was or wasn’t working and because of comments from judges like those we have brought in for Pursuit,” Ivers said.

Organizers have brought in 11 clinicians/judges this year. Ivers said the professionals are from New York, Indiana, California, Minnesota and Nevada.

“There will be four clinic sites hosting 14 bands — Two at SMSU and one each at MHS and Marshall Middle School,” he said. “Our clinic format is unique in that a band will receive direct feedback that they often put into their show during their clinic practice. It’s a great way to see if it works because the people they have for clinicians in the afternoon will be able to comment on it at their field performance that evening.”

The bands tend to get bigger and louder as the evening progresses. The Navy Class is set to start at 8:40 p.m.. Irondale High School takes the field first, followed by five marching bands from South Dakota — Central of Aberdeen, O’Gorman from Sioux Falls, Brookings, Brandon Valley and Roosevelt from Sioux Falls.

“One of the things that I like to do as a coordinator of the gates is to thank the bands for coming let them know we appreciate the hard work they do,” Schroeder said. “I try to meet the band at the end of the performance and tell them that when they are marching off the fields. Once in awhile, you’ll get a little smile form them when you know they are supposed to be serious when marching.”

Rosemount High School and Lincoln High School (Sioux Falls, South Dakota) will square off in the Ivory Class, beginning at 10:10 p.m.

“Pursuit of Excellence is a very long day, but very worth the time and effort put in by all of the bands and their clinicians,” Ivers said. “It really adds a quality education component that bands don’t receive at a traditional competition.”