INDIANAPOLIS – 88 high school marching bands from seven states will compete in the Bands of America Indianapolis Super Regional Championship this weekend at Lucas Oil Stadium.

Terre Haute North Vigo High School graduates Michael Barnett and Oliver Staley-Henne are among the 13,000 musicians taking part in the event.

They say that performing takes hard work and hours of practice.

“We train all week before a competition,” Barnett said. “They last between three and seven hours at a time.”

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“More than the music and marching, I love the people,” Staley-Henne said. “I love coming together, committing to a cause and bringing everything we have to the table.”

Preliminary competitions take place throughout the day on Friday and early Saturday. Performances are judged by a panel of nationally recognized music educators and marching band experts.

Bands receive recorded ratings and score sheets from each judge. The performances will be judged based on both musical and visual elements.

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The 14 bands with the highest points reach the final.

“A show design is almost like theater on the field presented to students in late spring,” said James Stephens of Music for All. “In the summer, they spend hours preparing and learning about the specific show.”

Stephens says the Indianapolis Super Regional is not just about competition, but also about developing lifelong skills.

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“Although we have trophies, the main focus of Bands of America is recognizing students, the hard work and dedication they put in on the field,” Stephens said. “We know that today’s students are tomorrow’s leaders.”

The Grand National Championship will take place November 14-16 at Lucas Oil Stadium.