High school band performances a Wayne County Fair favorite

  • By Patricia Faulhaber
  • August 30, 2012
  • 464
                        
It’s one of those long held traditions that create a wow factor for everyone that comes to listen. Local high school bands play on stage in the grandstand at the Wayne County Fair every year. The event highlights the musical and performing talents of 10 bands from around the county. Starting at 9 a.m. Sept. 10, a different band will play every 15 minutes until 11:30. That’s the same day as the Wayne County School Day, where students from schools around the area have a free admission ticket to get into the fair. The bands performing this year include: - Norwayne High School: 9 a.m. - Smithville High School: 9:15 a.m. - Waynedale High School: 9:30 a.m. - Chippewa High School: 9:45 a.m. - Rittman High School: 10 a.m. - Orrville High School: 10:15 a.m. - Dalton High School: 10:30 a.m. - Northwestern High School: 10:45 a.m. - Triway High School: 11 a.m. - Wooster High School: 11:15 a.m. “People attending the fair on Monday morning always appreciate having the high school bands here,” said Pete Armstrong, secretary/treasurer of the Wayne County Fair Board. “I’ve been here over 27 years and the bands have been coming since I started so this is a longtime tradition for them to play here and the kids in the band seem to enjoy coming to perform,” he said. Triway High School Marching Band is one of the bands that have been playing at the fair for well over 18 years. This year the band has 120 members and will be playing five selections during their 15 minutes. “This is my 18th show at the Wayne County Fair and I believe they were playing there before I got here,” said John Puster, music director at Triway High School. “Our kids are ready to play this year, as they have been every year. We have many friends, family and others in the community that come out that morning to hear the bands during the fair. Some may never have had the chance to hear the local bands play so they come to listen and watch us perform. Just like the fair itself, having the high school bands perform at the fair is all about community,” he said. Puster said that the band members also get a chance to meet up with friends from other bands and to watch them perform. And, Puster enjoys getting a chance to see other band directors at work. “We look forward to doing the show every year and appreciate the fair board having us,” Puster said. Armstrong said the kids come dressed in their band uniforms to play in the morning and then leave together on the bus. Most of them come back later to spend the day at the fair. “We appreciate the bands taking the time to come out to play for the event and for the entertainment value they provide the people that come to watch them,” Armstrong said.


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