Thousands expected for Band Day parade and half-time performance

About 2,200 high school marching band members from Kansas and Missouri are expected Saturday in Lawrence as part of Kansas University’s 58th Band Day festivities.

“I hope they enjoy it, and they see a lot of touchdowns scored by the crimson and blue,” said Tom Stidham, associate KU band director, of the high school musicians’ Lawrence outing.

The 33 high school bands will perform twice Saturday: at a 1:30 p.m. parade downtown and at half-time of the KU-Appalachian State football game, which begins at 6 p.m.

Stidham said one band would travel from as far as Florissant, Mo., which is near St. Louis.

The parade will march down Massachusetts Street from Seventh Street to South Park.

When it concludes, band members will rehearse at KU’s Memorial Stadium before taking the field at half-time.

One guest conductor at half-time will be William Gora, director of bands at Appalachian State, Stidham said.

“He’s been a friend of the KU program for years, and he’s retiring,” Stidham said.

Other conductors will be former KU director Robert Foster and current director John Lynch.