MARSHALL — Bringing back to Marshall a night of entertainment from nearly 15 marching bands from across the region and beyond is the 2025 Pursuit of Excellence competition, open to the public Saturday night at Southwest Minnesota State University’s Mattke Field.

The annual Pursuit of Excellence brings in numerous surrounding marching bands for a Marshall-based competition that takes place throughout the evening. The Marshall Tiger Marching Band will be competing, along with a performance from the SMSU Mustang Pep Band.

“I’m looking forward to the clinics [before the show],” trumpet player Brennen Thooft said. “I feel like on the day of Pursuit, that’s when our show transforms into the final masterpiece we’ll have at the end of the season.”

Participating bands get the opportunity to rehearse during the day before the evening in clinics, and receive feedback from competition judges.

Although competition takes place at night, community members can enjoy a Food Truck Fair in the Marshall High School parking lot throughout the day, from 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. A percentage of the proceeds will support the Marshall Marching Band.

Food trucks that will be attending are Maui Wowi, Angela’s Egg Roll, Cold Stone Creamery, Lingen Dairy, Chicken Connection, Rolling Hills Pizza and Scotty Biggs BBQ.

A handful of marching band students said they were looking forward to the food truck festival, and it gives people something to enjoy before the evening show.

“It used to be a food court, but only bands could eat there,” trumpet player Colby Allen said. “So now, they’re having food trucks, and the whole public can eat there.”

Marshall’s performance is titled, “Aurora” and it resembles the Northern Lights.

“You can expect some pretty cool soundscapes,” tenor drum player Riddley Powell said. “Look out for when we’re at the beginning of the show, all looking at the lights.”

Marshall will be performing later in the evening, under the football field lights.

“It’s a lot better at night when it’s under the lights, instead of during the day,” Allen said. “It’s a show worth seeing.”

There will also be a few solos throughout the performance, and mellophone player Sydney Larson said this routine in particular is one of the “prettiest” ones she’s been a part of in recent years.

“From my perspective, as commander, I think the whole point of the show is that everyone is meant to look like the Aurora, including the guard,” Jessie DeJaeghere said. “They’ll move in like the [way] of Aurora, so it’s kind of wavy. Then, they’re also stars, too, at some points.”

Along with the marching band season overall, the students dedicate weeks and hours of preparation into their performance.

“Preparation starts for Pursuit, right after Pursuit (the previous year),” flute player Anna Petersen said. “They start right after it ends. It’s like the whole year.”

The competition will begin at 5:30 p.m. with Sioux Falls Washington starting off the night in the Crimson Class. The bands will perform throughout the night in 15 minute increments.

“Just in general about how marching bands are, shows are usually formatted. There’s usually a pre-show when everyone’s coming on and the commander’s going on, there might be some soundscape,” Olivia Dahms said. “Then, generally, the music and marching is split into like three songs. There’ll be a pause in between, and then we’ll go on.”

Harrisburg, Anoka and Lennox will follow, with the SMSU Mustang Pep Band slated to perform at 6:30 p.m.

In the Navy Class, Aberdeen Central will begin the lineup at 6:45 p.m. Sioux Falls Roosevelt, West Central, Sioux Falls Jefferson, Sioux Falls O’Gorman and Mitchell will follow.

Huron, Brookings and Brandon Valley will compete in the Ivory Class, beginning at 8:15 p.m.

Performing last to cap off the night will be the Marshall Tiger Marching Band, taking the field at 9 p.m. for an exhibition.

Awards will follow for all classes after Marshall’s performance, starting at 9:15 p.m.

“One thing that’s really nice is that Pursuit for us, most of the day is clinics with the judges who are actually doing the competition. We’ll have rehearsals throughout the day, and they’ll help us improve,” Dahms said. “The only other time you do something like that is band camp, which is way back in July. So, it’s nice to have just a day dedicated to it, where we can just work on improving.”

Pursuit of Excellence is open to the public. Tickets are $15, and can be purchased at the gate. Doors open an hour prior, at 4:30 p.m.

“There’s a lot of [impressive] bands,” Allen said. “A lot of the shows are really good.”