TROY – The Troy High School school marching band will host the 45th annual Trojan Invitational Marching Band Contest Saturday at Troy Memorial Stadium.

Seventeen high school bands from around the region will be performing, with the first band set to perform at 4:45 p.m. Saturday. The Troy High School marching band will perform around 9:45 p.m. Saturday. The gates will open at 4 p.m.

"We are incredibly excited to once again be hosting the Trojan Marching Band Invitational Contest. It's a great opportunity for our families, friends and fans who live in the area to not only watch our band perform, but to also see 16 other talented bands from the area,” Troy High School Director of Bands Molly Venneman said. “Our band members have been working hard all summer to get ready for the competition season, and we would love to be able to put on our show for a big crowd at Troy Memorial Stadium.”

The Trojan marching band’s show this year is entitled, “The Daily Grind.”

“This year the Troy High School marching band tells the story of the monotony of the every day and the daily cup of joe needed to survive,” Venneman said. “The vicious cycle of routine and caffeine. But what happens if perhaps we over indulge? Do we learn our lesson, or do we come back for more the very next day? Not only do we think spectators will find it entertaining from a performance standpoint, we think it will give people something to think about as they are watching.”

After Troy performs at 9:45 p.m., then there will be a brief intermission before the awards ceremony.

Tickets to the event are $10 for adults, $6 for seniors (over the age of 60) and students. Children under 4 can get in for free. Credit cards and cash both will be accepted for admission and at the concession stands. All Troy City Schools staff members will receive free admission with their staff identification badge.

Troy also will perform in competitions at Bowling Green State University (Sept. 19), Grove City (Sept. 26) and Hamilton (Oct. 17). Should Troy earn a Superior rating at any of its four regular season contests, it would qualify for the Ohio Music Educators Association’s state competition in November.

Since the first OMEA state competition in 1980, Troy is one of only four bands in the state to qualify every year. Troy has earned a Superior rating every year at state since 2000.