Members of the Marshall Tiger Marching Band brought their energy to the field on Saturday, during a judged exhibition at the 27th annual Pursuit of Excellence. Although rain showers caused a delay in this year’s competition, all 20 participating bands got the chance to march at the Schwan Regional Events Center.

MARSHALL — The weather was the one big uncertainty for the marching bands gathered in Marshall over the weekend. Organizers of the 27th annual Pursuit of Excellence waited until noon Saturday to make the call to go ahead with outdoor performances at the band competition.

But aside from a short delay for rain showers that night, the stormy forecast passed Marshall by. All 20 participating high school bands at Pursuit were able to take the field.

“I am so thankful that the weather forecast was so wrong,” Marshall High School band director Larry Petersen told the crowd.

Marching bands from Minnesota, South Dakota, Iowa and Nebraska all took part in this year’s Pursuit of Excellence. More than 1,300 students spent the day rehearsing with clinicians, before a competition and judged exhibition at the Schwan Regional Events Center.

Getting a chance to work with clinicians from around the country was one of the things that made Pursuit special, MHS students said.

“It’s a day to get to talk to the judges that judge us during competition,” said color guard member Abigail Guggisberg.

Averi Schneider, a bass clarinet player in the marching band, said it was good to be able to get a “second opinion” from clinicians. They could offer a fresh perspective and feedback on the band’s field show.

“They taught us a lot,” Schneider said.

The event was also a chance for the marching band to perform its show for a hometown crowd, students said.

MHS students started Saturday morning by working through their competition show with clinicians. The Tiger Marching Band’s show, “A Bump In the Night,” features songs from the Eurythmics, the Cranberries, and Muse. The show tells the story of a child having a nightmare, and learning to face their fears, Petersen said.

“The whole thing is about building the courage to fight back,” he said.

The darker themes of “A Bump In the Night” were a contrast from the marching band’s past few shows, students said.

“We haven’t done a show like this in a long time,” said color guard member Kaitlyn Rosenboom. The Tiger color guard got to portray the nightmares in the show, and the band members had to express some big emotions as they fought back against fear.

Getting those big emotions across in a way the audience could see from the stands was something students worked on during their clinic Saturday.

“You are actors and actresses in a story. You have to portray that story,” clinician Joseph Itkor told MHS students. In addition to their music and marching, students needed to put a lot of energy into their movements and expression, clinicians said.

Clinician and judge Mike Aycock said Saturday was his fourth time being part of Pursuit of Excellence. The event was a highlight for him, he said. “It’s the clinics, and getting to interact with the kids,” Aycock said.

Pursuit of Excellence results

Gold class (1-50 winds and percussion)

1st place: Harrisburg High School, Harrisburg, S.D.

2nd place: Lennox High School, Lennox, S.D.

3rd place: Anoka High School

4th place: Sheldon High School, Sheldon, Iowa

5th place: Jefferson High School, Sioux Falls, S.D.

6th place: Bishop Heelan High School, Sioux City, Iowa

Crimson class (51-70 winds and percussion)

1st place: West Lyon High School, Inwood, Iowa

2nd place: Hastings High School

3rd place: West Central High School, Hartford, S.D.

4th place: Sibley-Ocheyedan High School, Sibley, Iowa

Navy class (71-99 winds and percussion)

1st place: Bellevue West High School, Bellevue, Neb.

2nd place: O’Gorman High School, Sioux Falls, S.D.

3rd place: Mitchell High School, Mitchell, S.D.

4th place: Roosevelt High School, Sioux Falls, S.D.

5th place: Aberdeen Central High School, Aberdeen S.D.

6th place: Huron High School, Huron, S.D.

Ivory class (100+ winds and percussion)

1st place: Brandon Valley High School, Brandon, S.D.

2nd place: Lincoln High School, Sioux Falls, S.D.

3rd place: Brookings High School, Brookings, S.D.