Double-time it to marching band fest

Sixteen marching bands will face off at Wheeling High School this evening in the Chicagoland Marching Band Festival.

This is the 40th year the high school has hosted the festival, which begins shortly before 5:30 p.m. and runs until shortly after 10 p.m.

Admission is $10 for adults, $7 for students and seniors 60 and up. Children under 4 are admitted free. Family packages are also available.

Band Director Brian Logan said the festival will feature groups as small as 30 and as large as 200.

The festivities begin at 5:25 p.m. with the Wheeling High School brass choir performing the "Star-Spangled Banner."

The line-up of participating high school bands includes Glenbrook North (6:45 p.m.), Neuqua Valley (8 p.m.), Naperville Central (8:15 p.m.), Waubonsie Valley (8:30 p.m.), Naperville North (8:45 p.m.), Warren Township (9:15 p.m.) and John Hersey (9:30 p.m.).

Host Wheeling will take the field at 9:45 p.m.

The awards ceremony will take place at 10 p.m.

Logan said the Wheeling High School marching band will be playing music by Aaron Copland, while other bands will perform pieces ranging from music with a Spanish flavor to music that is based on colors.

Logan said bands will also showcase selections from "Beauty and the Beast" and even a jazz set called "Swing Sensations."

"If you like music and have certain tastes, you'll hear something you like for sure," he said.

The festival arrives on the heels of Wheeling's triumph at Buffalo Grove Days, where it received the Best Marching Band distinction at the parade on Sept. 2.

The band also participated in the finals and received the award for best percussion in its class at the Lake Park Lancer Joust on Sept. 15.