Harry Wenger Marching Band Festival Results and Photos

The sixth annual Harry Wenger Marching Band Festival paraded through downtown Owatonna on Saturday. 

Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sundberg won the Class A standings. Milaca won the AA championship. The 77 Lancers from Mankato won the AAA title. The 728 Cadets from Rogers were the People's Choice winners.

Other bands included Dover-Eyota, Winona Cotter, Lake City, Richfield, Henry Sibley, Maple Grove, Waconia and Champlin Park. As the host school, Owatonna took part in exhibition.

Spectators began lining up nearly two hours before the festival began. Overnight rain ended long before the bands began performing. Bands are judged in a number of areas including best drum majors, best wind section, best percussion, best color guard and best marching. There was also a grand champion award.

The festival honors long-time teacher and Owatonna businessman Harry Wenger. He came to Owatonna as a music teacher in 1936. In 1946 he began designing and creating music chairs. That same year Wenger Co. was founded and has expanded a number of times since then. Wenger makes numerous musical products, teaching tools, stands and other innovative musical devices. Wenger died in 1992.

The Owatonna band is directed by Peter Guenther and has almost 100 members. Their summer performance schedule includes June 22 at Valleyfair and June 28 at Lake City's Water Ski Days Parade.