Palm Springs will have the distinct honor of hosting the world’s best marching show bands, when the World Association of Marching Show Bands (WAMSB) World Championships is held from November 28th to December 2, 2017.
The City of Palm Springs, Palm Springs Resorts Association, Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, in conjunction with the Palm Springs High School Spirit of the Sands Band program will host marching show bands, parade bands, and concert bands from around the world!
“We’re beyond excited to be hosting this year’s WAMSB World Championships,” says Brian Ingelson, Director of the WAMSB Palm Springs Championships. “This event is considered to be one of the largest and most well-respected competitions of its type in the world. This is the first time in WAMSB’s twenty-year history that the World Championships will be held in the United States and the fact that it is taking place in Palm Springs makes it even more special. We have bands attending from Germany, China, Brazil, Poland, the Czech Republic and of course some of the finest American Bands in the land”.
Concert Bands, Wind Ensembles, Jazz bands, Parade Marching Show Bands, and Drum Lines will be competing with adjudication by a group of international judges. The judges include representatives from Germany, Holland, Canada and the United States. The Festival is also an excellent opportunity for the members of the bands to experience Palm Springs and the surrounding area and take part in educational sightseeing, cultural exchange and fellowship. The five-day festival will culminate with the bands performing at the 24th Annual Festival of Lights Parade
The Opening Ceremony will be held outside the Palm Springs City Hall hosted by Mayor Moon welcoming bands from across the world to the Coachella Valley. Concert events will be held at the Richards Center for the Arts (at Palm Springs High School), Parade and Show Band events Ralph Watt Stadium (Farrell and Baristo Rd., Palm Springs), and the Drum Line Jam at the Street Fair and Festival of Lights on Palm Canyon. Admission to each of the competitive events for the community is only $5.00.
WAMSB is an international band association dedicated to promoting global communication and interaction between marching show bands. It also aims to encourage active participation in marching show bands universally, to strengthen the movement internationally and to stimulate the staging of world class band events.
WAMSB PALM SPRINGS SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Nov. 28th – 4pm: Opening Ceremonies at Palm Springs City Hall
Nov. 29th – 1pm: Concert Bands/ Wind Ensembles/ Jazz Bands at Richards Center for the Arts
Nov. 30th – 1pm: Parade Band preliminaries at Ralph Watt Stadium
7:00 pm: Drum Line “Jam” at Palm Springs Street Fair (Tahquitz and Palm Canyon)
Dec. 1st – 1pm: Parade Band Finals/ Out of Town Show Band Prelims at Ralph Watt Stadium
Dec. 2nd – 9–4pm: Show Band local prelims and Show Band Finals at Ralph Watt Stadium
5:45pm: Festival of Lights Parade on Palm Canyon Drive
7:45pm: Closing Ceremonies at Francis Stevens Park
WE ARE SO EXCITED TO WELCOME THE FOLLOWING BANDS THAT ARE SCHEDULED TO APPEAR AT THE WORLD ASSOCIATION OF MARCHING SHOW BANDS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS IN PALM SPRINGS!
Fanfarenzug Neustrelitz- GERMANY
Xili Primary School- SHENZEN CHINA
Mestky Dechovy Ochestr Cheb – CZECH REPUBLIC
Groitzscher Spielleute e.V- GERMANY
Hettstedter Spielmannszurg Blau Weiss- GERMANY
Orkiestra Red Swing Low- POLAND
Summit High School Skyhawks Marching Regiment- USA
Desert Hot Springs High School- USA
Ramona Dynasty Band and Color Guard- USA
Palm Springs High “Sprit of the Sands” – USA
John North HS Blue Star Regiment- USA
Cathedral City High School Symphony Band- USA
Palm Desert Charter Middle School Wind Ensemble – USA
* Web links to these bands may be found at: http://psworldmusic.com/Palm_Springs_World_Music/scheduled_to_appear.html
FOR MORE INFORMATION: www.psworldmusic.com
Tournament Directors
Email: Brian Ingelson bcingelson@gmail.com
Email: Beverley Ingelson bfingelson@gmail.com
Tournament Coordinator
Email: Cecelia Peroni ceceperoni@gmail.com
