1
West Virginia Marching Band Invitational
presented by the West Virginia Division of Culture and History
Randall Reid-Smith, Commissioner
Dear Band Director,
Hello. My name is Randall Reid-Smith, and I am contacting you on behalf of the West Virginia Division of
Culture and History (WVDCH). The division plans to host the fourth annual West Virginia Marching Band
Invitational (WVMBI) on Saturday, October 24, 2015, at Laidley Field in Charleston, WV as part of its
cultural education mission. This competition also will help promote the division's educational VH1 Save
The Music Foundation program, which provides free musical instruments to middle schools throughout
our state.
The WVMBI will include competing bands organized in six divisions within three classes 1A, 2A; 1AA,
2AA; 1AAA, 2AAA. Bands will be organized into classes based on school size, not band size. Awards and
cash prizes will be given to schools for overall performance within their respective classes and divisions.
Each Class(A,AA,AAA) will have a State Grand Champion. Awards and cash prizes will also be given to
the Top 5 bands regardless of class and division. We will offer an opportunity for middle school bands to
perform in their own classification.
All bands will have 15 minutes of performing time, preceded by two 20 minute time slots for warm-ups.
The competition will begin at 10:30 AM. Post-competition events will include a performance by a band
from one of West Virginia’s schools of higher learning. There will not be a Full Retreat this year.
All West Virginia high school marching bands are encouraged to apply to the WVMBI. All marching
ensembles will be considered for acceptance into the competition upon completion of the attached
application. Please note that the WVMBI is open to a limited number of ensembles, so please be sure to
fill out the application form honestly and completely.
The WVDCH is very excited about this competition and its prospects for promoting marching bands in
West Virginia. We hope you will consider the opportunity to participate in this wonderful event. If you
have any questions or comments regarding the WVMBI, please do not hesitate to contact me at (304)
558-0220.
Deadline for applications is September 21, 2015.
Thank you,
Randall Reid-Smith
Commissioner
West Virginia Division of Culture and History
2
-ApplicationIf you and your school’s band are interested in taking part in this statewide marching band competition,
please fill out the information below and send it back to Commissioner Randall Reid-Smith at the
WVDCH. The following questions are designed to help the WVMBI administrative body determine
eligibility and determine how to organize marching ensembles by class
The information that you provide will help the division to assure that the most qualified ensembles are
accepted into the WVMBI and that the event is organized as effectively as possible. We are very excited
to review your application and hope to see you at the WVMBI in October.
Please fill out this form and return it to the address below no later than September 21, 2015 via email,
or by mail to:
Randall Reid-Smith
Commissioner
WV Division of Culture and History
The Culture Center
Capitol Complex
1900 Kanawha Boulevard East
Charleston WV 25305-0300
(Note: Please type this form or make sure that all answers are legible.)
Name of high school:
Name of band director:
Name of marching band:
School’s population approximate:
Number of students in ensemble:
Number of director’s assistants and names, if applicable:
3
Theme/Name of your show:
Show music selections:
How many festivals or marching band competitions does your marching ensemble attend annually?
Please list these competitions and indicate the highest awards achieved at each :
Has your marching ensemble been selected as a Grand Champion at a festival or competition within the
past five (5) years? If so, how many times and where?
Has your marching ensemble competed in previous WVMBI competitions?
The WVMBI will be held at Laidley Field in Charleston on October 24, 2015. Please indicate your
approximate travel time from your marching ensemble’s meeting location to Charleston, WV.