They play a little of everything: rock, jazz, even movie soundtracks. But they’re not an ordinary cover band — they’re the Oregon Marching Band.
Saturday, the band will host the Festival of Bands, a high school marching band competition, at Autzen Stadium. At least 30 bands from throughout the Northwest will compete, and Oregon will perform two exhibitions.
Todd Zimbelman, OMB director, encourages people who are not involved in marching band to show up and experience what the performances have to offer.
“Marching band competitions are truly the ‘sport of the arts,’” Zimbelman said. “If the general public likes competition, drama, live performances, emotional responses and theatrical staging, then the general public would love the Festival of Bands.”
Carolyn Stock, festival coordinator and graduate music performance student, agreed that it doesn’t take an understanding of marching band to appreciate what it offers.
“It would be great for families. It would be great for University students,” she said.
Aside from entertainment, Stock said the festival is the OMB’s largest fundraiser of the year and a major recruiting opportunity.

Brady Umeda, captain of the colorguard, which is a strictly visual element of the band, said the festival “is a chance to show high school kids that they can continue this activity into college.”
However, Stock said, even if high school students aren’t interested in pursuing marching band, Festival of Bands is a good recruitment tool for the University in general.
But recruitment is not the only way the festival impacts high school students. It’s a chance for them to perform in Autzen Stadium and to show off to fellow students from other schools, said Tyson Wooters, OMB co-drum major and a junior music education major.
The Festival of Bands is the Northwest Marching Band Circuit’s championship competition. High school bands have dedicated a lot of time to their performances; the festival is a chance for them to display the final product of all their hard work, Wooters said, and maybe even win an award.
But high school bands aren’t the only performers who are excited about the festival. It’s just as big of a performance for the Oregon band, Stock said.
“There’s a certain rush that comes from performing for high school students,” she said.
Julie Bounds, the OMB Council president and a music major, said Festival of Bands puts the focus on the band itself — a change from a typical performance at a football game.

“This is our chance to be in the spotlight,” she said.
The OMB will perform its latest show, music from the recent movie “Gladiator,” in two exhibition performances: after the preliminary round, which will conclude about 4:30 p.m., and after finals, which will wrap up around 10 p.m. Oregon’s drum line will perform and offer a clinic during the lunch break.
Gates will open about 7 a.m. for the preliminary round. The 14 highest-scoring bands will compete in finals, which will begin about 6 p.m. Presentation of the grand championship trophy will conclude the event.
Tickets will be available at stadium Gate B on Saturday. All-day tickets are $12 for adults and $8 for students and senior citizens. Children 5 years old and younger will be admitted for free.
“It’s simple, really,” Zimbelman said. “If a person likes live theater, live music, sporting events, competitive events, dance performances, then they will appreciate and enjoy the Festival of Bands.”