Copland is king during Wheeling Marching Festival

Sixteen high school marching bands drew a capacity crowd Saturday night at Wheeling High School's 40th annual Marching Festival.

From classic compositions by American composer Aaron Copland to lyrical symphonic music -- and everything in between -- the bands gave the crowd their money's worth.

For the first time in the festival's history, a band from the smaller division, Morton High School from Morton, beat out its larger school competition to win the title of grand champion.

Among larger schools competing in the Class AAA division, Lincolnway Central took first place, followed by Warren Township High School in second and Hersey High School in third.

Warren's band performed a show they called the "ABCs of American Music" that culminated in the "The Promise of Living" by Aaron Copland.

Though it didn't compete, Wheeling's band performed its competition program, which ironically showcases Copland's music.

They opened with the "Outdoor Overture" before moving into "The Promise of Living" and building to the "Copland Finale."

"Copland is just a great American composer," said Brian Logan, Wheeling High School's band director. "It's good music for the kids -- and the audience -- to be exposed to."

Hersey's band was led by its senior drum majors, T.J. Mack and Lauren Hess, both of Arlington Heights, who earned first-place marks from the judges and best ratings overall for their musicianship and conducting skills.

"They're so important to our band. If they're conducting well, the band just plays better musically," said Scott Casagrande, Hersey band director. "They're just tighter overall."

Both teens served as drum majors last year and attended a music camp over the summer at Indiana State University to focus on their conducting.

Not every band competition judges drum majors, but at Wheeling's festival, its panel of judges marked them on their conducting technique, showmanship and leadership.

"They're both outstanding role models," Casagrande added, "who have really come into their own as drum majors."