YIM MARCHING BAND CHAMPIONSHIPS

The Youth In Music Marching Band Championships filled downtown Minneapolis with beautiful music and colorguard movement on Saturday October 13 in U.S. Bank Stadium from 6am to 11pm.

The bands started their warm up process outdoors in The Commons Park in windy 45 degree temperatures and ended with some blazing hot performances on the field with temperatures of 70 degrees, sunny and no wind. A perfect environment for the bands and their colorful, complex maneuvers synchronized to various music genres, from Jazz to Classical.

29 High School Bands were vying for the Youth In Music Grand Championship that was taken home by Rosemount High School for the 12th time in the 14 year history of the event. The other two bands that have taken home the Grand Champion Trophy are Irondale High School in 2005 and Eden Prairie High School in 2015.

Many great performances were experienced by the 7,000 fans in the stands. The 29 bands represent about 4000 student participants. 100 Charter Busses and Semi- Trailers invaded the parking lots and hooded street parking within a 5 block radius of the Stadium.

The event celebrates the accomplishments of its participants by awarding 7 scholarships to high school seniors and 2 lifetime achievement awards to professionals who have dedicated their lives to music and arts education.

It was announced on Saturday that Youth In Music is looking forward to taking 300 High School marching band students to San Diego in December of 2019 as the Youth In Music Honor Band was invited to the Holiday Bowl Parade, Halftime Performance and Field Band Competition. More information and audition information can be found HERE

2018 Hall of Fame Inductees:
Keith Johnson – Litchfield
Gary Swanson – Irondale

CLASS A Championships
Exhibition Hudson HS
74.80 Anoka
71.90 Harrisburg
66.00 Andover
64.80 Lakeville South
64.80 Coon Rapids
64.20 Park Center
60.60 Blaine
54.80 Pipestone
52.50 Mukwonago
Colorguard – Anoka
Percussion – Andover
Visual – Anoka
Winds – Harrisburg

Scholarships Class A
Braden Culp – Harrisburg HS
Emily Junqi Lloyd – Lakeville South

CLASS AA Championships
81.00 Lourdes
80.15 Minnetonka
73.70 Hastings
72.30 Champlin Park
71.35 Farmington
68.90 Mitchell
63.10 Chippewa Falls
Colorguard – Lourdes
Percussion – Minnetonka
Visual – Lourdes
Winds – Hastings

Scholarships Class AA
Anika Jeannette Mann – Farmington
Jessica Weis – Lourdes

CLASS AAA Championships
84.10 Roosevelt
77.90 Brookings
76.30 Grand Rapids
Colorguard – Grand Rapids
Percussion – Roosevelt
Visual – Roosevelt
Winds – Grand Rapids

Scholarship Class AAA
Victoria Deitschman – Roosevelt

CLASS AAAA Championships
89.00 Rosemount
88.80 Sioux Falls Lincoln
87.65 Eden Prairie
86.60 Millard North
85.00 Irondale
84.90 Marshall
83.85 Eastview
Colorguard – Rosemount
Percussion – Eden Prairie
Visual – Rosemount
Winds – SF Lincoln

Scholarship Class AAAA
Emma Ulrich – Millard North
Madison Johanna Vaillant

Class A MN State Championships
1st Place – Anoka
2nd Place – Andover
3rd Place – Tie
Lakeville South &
Coon Rapids

Class AA MN State Championships
1st Lourdes
2nd Minnetonka
3rd Hastings

Class AAA MN State Championships
1st Grand Rappids

Class AAAA MN State Championships
1st Rosemount
2nd Eden Prairie
3rd Irondale

College Bands in Exhibition:
NDSU Goldstar Marching Band
UWEC Blugold Marching Band

2018 YIMMYs
Best Performer: Jake Newcomb, Sioux Falls Roosevelt HS who played the bagpipe.
Best Drum Major: Grace Maney, Mukwonago HS
Outstanding School Spirit: Blaine HS

YOUTH IN MUSIC GRAND CHAMPIONSHIP
93.00 Rosemount
91.70 Eden Prairie
91.50 Sioux Falls Lincoln
86.00 Millard North
85.70 Eastview
82.30 Irondale
82.20 Marshall
80.00 Sioux Falls Roosevelt
73.90 Lourdes
70.40 Anoka

Thank you to our major sponsors: Schmitt Music, YAMAHA Band and Orchestra, Stanbury Uniforms and Grand Tours.

Photos courtesy of Lifetouch Special Events Photography

Session II Schedule

Session I Schedule

Evening Guest Performances
UWEC Blugold Marching Band – 9:45pm
(requires a Session II ticket)

For 2017, Youth In Music Marching Band Championships are presented by Chops Inc. at U.S. Bank Stadium on October 14 from 9am-10pm. Chops Inc. is an all-age music & performance organization based in Minneapolis, MN. Chops offers performance opportunities in Chops Drum and Bugle Corps, Chops Percussion Indoor, and Chops Winter Guard. Their partnership with Youth In Music reflects their belief that the best approach to music education is through the incomparable experience of a well-supported school-based music curriculum. There is no greater platform for music education, specifically through the marching arts, in Minnesota and the upper Midwest than Youth In Music, and Chops proudly supports the efforts of the band directors, teachers, students, parents, and fans who make it possible for all.

Youth In Music Championships presented by Chops, Inc. spotlights 26 high school bands in competition for Class Championships, The Minnesota State Championships and The Youth In Music Upper Midwest Championship. Five other bands will perform in exhibition: University of Wisconsin LaCrosse Screaming Eagle Marching Band, North Dakota State University Goldstar Marching Band, University of Wisconsin Eau Claire Blugold Marching Band and The Marine Band from New Orleans.

There are two sessions of competition during the day on October 14. Session 1 starts at 9am and features all 26 high school bands in competition for Class A, AA, AAA, AAAA Championships while only the Minnesota Bands are competing for their respective state championships in those same 4 classes. Also featured in this session is the Screaming Eagle Marching Band from UWL and The Goldstar Marching Band from NDSU. Session 2 at 7pm features the 4 class champions plus the 6 next highest scoring bands and they are competing for the Youth In Music Upper Midwest Championship Trophies. Tickets are available at www.youthinmusic.org and livestreaming of the event is available on the day of the event at https://www.youthinmusic.org/2017-video-streaming/

This year we recognize two distinguished band directors for their lifetime achievements in music education. Roger Bjorklund and John Greene will receive our Lifetime Achievement Award: The Butch Dufault YIMMY. Roger Bjorklund is known for his outstanding bands and recordings with the St. Anthony Village High School Bands. John Greene from District 196 is recognized for his outstanding jazz bands, marching bands and leadership in the marching arts of Minnesota. Join us at 4:30pm to honor these two outstanding educators.

Youth In Music provides opportunities for students to perform and engage in experiences that will enrich their lives through artistic expression. We believe that arts education is a critical part of a complete education and that communities thrive when supporters, volunteers, families and friends collaborate with students as our number one priority.

Student Scholarships:
Youth In Music is proud to provide five $500 scholarships to students who participate in our Marching Band Championships each year. We have been able to increase the number of scholarships because of the support we have received from our sponsors and volunteers.

Thank you to our 2017 Sponsors: Chops, Inc., Schmitt Music, Grand Tours, YAMAHA Instruments, Stanbury Uniforms, and the US Marine Corps.

Bands will start warming up in the Commons at 6:30am on October 14, 2017 and representatives will be available for interviews throughout the day.