Andy Odell, music teacher at Worcester Central School, said classes this week will focus on polishing a Celtic medley students have prepared for the 60th annual Sherburne Pageant of Bands.
``We're just happy to go and play our best and enjoy the day,'' Odell said Sunday.
About 20,000 people are expected to be in Sherburne for the 1 p.m. Saturday parade, which will feature 30 junior and senior high school bands, organizers said.
Parade day is exciting because of the size of the event, said Odell, who has taken students each of the 15 years he has been teaching at Worcester. Last year, the students played well and looked sharp when they passed the reviewing stand, he said.
The result was first place in the parade competition for Worcester Central School.
``I was very proud of the way they played and performed,'' Odell said.
This year, about 40 students in the senior-high and 30 in the junior-high concert bands will merge into the parade unit, which also will have a color guard, he said. Students will compete in multiple categories, including drum line and jazz ensemble, during the three-day pageant.
Organizers said the pageant, which was founded by Albert Whitney and Frank L. Miller, is recognized as the largest, oldest and most-respected band pageant in the state. Bands compete for trophies and ratings, which are determined by professional judges.
Competition categories include concert, parade, small ensemble, color guard, jazz ensemble, drum line and drum major.
The schedule includes:
Jazz groups and small ensembles will compete in the Sherburne-Earlville Middle/High School beginning at 4 p.m. Thursday and Friday.
A party, featuring music by Cassidy Lynn, will commemorate the 60th anniversary year from 6 to 10 p.m. Friday.
On Saturday, competition begins at 9 a.m. with concert band competitions at various sites in the Sherburne-Earlville High School.
At 1 p.m. Saturday, the parade proceeds through downtown Sherburne with the reviewing area on Main Street near the traffic light.
The drum-line competition takes place beginning at 1:30 p.m. followed by the awards presentation at 4:30 p.m.
The Sherburne Pageant of Bands is sponsored by the Sherburne Fire Department and hosted by the Sherburne-Earlville Central School at 13 School St. Admission is free.
Organizers said ample parking is available near the high school, where there will also be concession stands.
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