MARSHALL — With a full crowd present and over a dozen competing bands, the Marshall Tiger Marching Band hosted its 29th annual Pursuit of Excellence event Saturday night at Southwest Minnesota State University’s Mattke Field.

The bleachers filled with supporters, as did the grass hill on the opposite side of the field with band peers, to watch 13 competing bands put on a show. Marshall, who performed in exhibition, took the field last with a performance that resembled the Northern Lights.

“We get to hear the judge’s tapes after competitions,” Olivia Dahms of the Marshall marching band said. “I think it was two weeks ago, we heard the judges describe it as ‘shimmering,’ and really takes on a new life at night.”

To cap off the night of music, the Marshall band took to the field with a handful of display props with purple, green and blue colors combined with stars to represent a night sky of Northern Lights.

During the production, titled “Aurora,” the band began by staring up at the sky before instrumentals began. While the band performed, a few other members dressed in suits that matched the props added to the piece with baton tricks that had green flags attached, often throwing and catching them in the air.

“Our show this year really captures the mystery and magic of the Northern Lights,” Brennen Thooft, trumpet player, said.

“It’s something you’ve never seen before,” mellophone player Sydney Larson added.

The band marched through a few rotations during the production, led by drum major Jessie DeJaeghere, with constant moving pieces that kept the eye entertained.

Marshall earned a loud applause after its performance, as did the other bands that competed with productions that ranged over a variety of themes.

Other bands that participated this year were Sioux Falls Washington, Harrisburg, Anoka, Lennox, Aberdeen Central, Sioux Falls Roosevelt, West Central, Sioux Falls Jefferson, Sioux Falls O’Gorman, Mitchell, Huron, Brookings and Brandon Valley. The SMSU Mustang Pep Band also made an appearance.

Lennox took first place in the Crimson Class for its performance of “Waves,” Sioux Falls Jefferson earned first in the Navy Class with “In My Light … You Shall Grow,” and Brandon Valley topped the Ivory Class with “The Marching Lynx.”

Marshall was the only band to perform in exhibition, and doesn’t competitively compete in Pursuit of Excellence, but it still receives feedback from judges.

“I think my favorite part is after we’re done with all the clinics, and we’re finally getting ready to go to the show,” DeJaeghere said. “Like we are all in here (the school’s band room), getting ready and just talking with each other.”

All participating bands rehearse in clinics throughout the day prior to the evening competition, and get an opportunity to also hear from judges at that time.

Also new to Pursuit of Excellence this year was a food truck festival that the public could enjoy during the day at the Marshall High School parking lot, before moving over to SMSU for the concert. Seven different local vendors came in for the event.

The Marshall Tiger Marching Band is off to a strong start with its season, and several members expressed love for their production this year.

“I think we did a couple things different this year. This year, we had the full show down like during band camp (over the summer),” trumpet player Colby Allen said. “We are a lot more further along (at this point in the season) than last year.”

“It’s (preparation) in the works all year around,” Larson added. “Everything is really intertwined.”

The band is directed by Larry Petersen and Chris Witherow.

Marshall had a good showing at the Eden Prairie and Eastview competition on Sept. 6, notably earning the top score in the Music General Effect.

The Tigers then competed at Rosemount on Sept. 13, placing sixth in the preliminaries to advance to the finals, where they took tenth in Class AA.

“I also feel like we’re ahead from last year, because last year, Rosemont was a very tough competition for us … Last year was the first year that they started introducing prelims and final rounds, and we didn’t make it,” Dahms said. “Even if we placed tenth, we made (the finals) this year and I feel like it’s a huge jump.”

The students spend weeks and hours at the start of the season learning the new piece. They first report to band camp beginning in July, and continue perfecting the production through weekend competitions.

“We have band camp in July and August. First, we have mini camps that start the spring, and that’s to get people introduced to it and give them a little taste of it,” Larson said. “Then band camp is eight hours a day, for two weeks straight.”

The Marshall Tiger Marching Band will next bring “Aurora” to the Luverne and Brandon Valley “Big Sioux Review” Competition this Saturday, looking to continue its success and bring to other regions its take on the Northern Lights.

“It’s shared between Brandon Valley and Luverne. The band with the highest cumulative points gets an award,” Dahms said. “The past two years, we have won it. So, we’re trying to get it three years in a row.”

The Pursuit of Excellence plans to make a return again next year, for its 30th anniversary of the annual event.