EUGENE, Ore. (KMTR) – A rare competition at Autzen Stadium took place on Saturday without the Oregon Ducks but with more than a dozen Pacific Northwest high schools.
The annual Oregon Festival of Bands high school marching band competition trumpeted Saturday afternoon, October 20 on Rich Brooks Field.
Sixteen high school bands from Oregon, Washington and California all took part, including Sheldon High School and Willamette High School from the Eugene-Springfield area.
The competition is one of the only chances all year that many high school bands get to measure their skills against others.
"Just the feeling of going out there and hearing the applause and compliments for all of the work we've done,” said Breanna Ray of Century High School.
"Yeah, it's incredible to represent such a fantastic group - I mean they are a great group of kids. We're pretty rocking this year, so it's a good season,” says Morghaine White, also of Century High School.
Breanna and Morghaine are both senior drum majors for Century High’s band, which includes more than 170 students.
All students participating also got to hear the Oregon Ducks marching band play twice.