Tonight, we are thrilled to present some of the finest high school marching bands from across the state of Iowa!

Founded in 1981 by former Marion High School band director Mr. David Law, the Marion Marching Invitational has grown over the last 45 years to welcome more than 60 schools from across Iowa and beyond: from Council Bluffs to Bettendorf, Cresco to Bloomfield, and even from as far away as Mississippi!

While the Invitational continues its long-standing legacy of celebrating performance and musical diversity, our core mission focuses on growth and learning. Now in our 4th year at the new Marion Activities Complex, we are also proud to mark our 2nd year partnering with Mount Mercy University to provide expanded, hands-on clinics to all performing schools. Beyond the competition, participating bands receive direct feedback, constructive evaluations, high-definition drone video recordings of their performances, and personalized guidance from distinguished clinicians covering percussion, guard, and winds. This education-first approach ensures that every student leaves the field not just with a performance to be proud of, but with valuable insights to carry forward throughout their season! 

Thank you for joining us tonight to support these talented performers and celebrate 45 years of music, community, and learning!