RICHMOND, KY. – Tickets are now available for purchase for the 2012 Kentucky Music Educators Association (KMEA) State Marching Band Championships to be held Saturday, October 27 at Western Kentucky University's Houchens Industries L.T. Smith Stadium.

One hundred twenty-two high school bands from 84 of Kentucky’s 120 counties are participating in this year’s events.

The KMEA State Marching Band Competition is one of the best embodiments of what is good about education in Kentucky. This year marks 27 years of marching excellence in the KMEA State Marching Band Championships.

The SMBC is the culminating performance event for over 8,500 students and their school marching bands. It is the capstone of weeks of focused student effort to produce an artistic product that demands great intellect, physical skill, and artistic expression.

The performances these students bring to the event are nothing short of spectacular, and they will reap memories that extend far into adulthood. Lessons learned on the path to this event will nurture performance skills, creative thinking abilities, collaborative skills, and attitudes that will contribute to the success of these young people whatever career path they choose.

Most of all, the lessons and skills learned will add balance and richness to the students’ life experiences as they are empowered to be life-long participants in music-making and supporters of music.

To qualify for the state championships, bands must perform in at least two of the fifty-six KMEA-sanctioned contests scheduled September 10 through October 15 throughout the state. Each qualifying band will then compete in the Regional Quarterfinal competitions.

Regional Quarterfinals are held on October 20 in six locations, three in the eastern part of the state, and three in the western part of the state.
• Class A East and AAAA East – Madison Southern High School
• Classes AA and AAA East – Bourbon County High School
• Class AAAAA East – Montgomery County High School
• Class A and AAA West – Hopkinsville High School
• Class AAA West – Hart County High School
• Class AA and AAAAA West – Muhlenberg County High School

The top eight bands from each regional competition – a total of 16 bands in each class – will meet for semi-finals competition October 27 at the following locations, all of which are in the Bowling Green area and surrounding Counties:
• Class A – Warren Central High School
• Class AA – Greenwood High School
• Class AAA – Allen County-Scottsville High School
• Class AAAA – Barren County High School
• Class AAAAA – Western Kentucky University Houchens Industries L.T. Smith Stadium

The top four scoring bands in each class will move on to the finals competition to begin at 6:00 p.m. CDT on October 27 at WKU's Houchens Industries L.T. Smith Stadium. The event will conclude with the naming of a state champion in each class.

Tickets for the October 20 regional competitions are $10.00 and can be purchased at each event site. Tickets for the October 27 semi-finals are $10.00 and finals are $12.00 and $17.00 and can be purchased in advance through KMEA or at the event sites.

For more information or to purchase tickets, contact KMEA at 859-626-5635 or log on to www.kmea.org where you will find ticket information and order forms.