URBANA — The Urbana High School Athletic Complex overflowed with sights, sounds and smells Wednesday night. Food trucks lined the block and flags and rifles spun through the air as local high school marching bands rehearsed in different corners of the field.
The 5th annual C-U Marching Showcase brought together the Champaign Central Marching Maroons, the Urbana Tiger Marching Band and the Champaign Centennial Marching Chargers for a night of food, fun and performance on Sept. 23.
Brian Ford, assistant band director at Centennial, says it’s one of his favorite events.
The bands usually compete, but on this day, they’re here to have fun.
“It’s great to see the kids just get to let loose, and they don’t have to focus on competing with anybody,” Ford said. “There’s no trophies or awards or anything at stake.”
The showcase also served as a fundraiser, collecting donations to be split evenly across the three bands.
School district officials and the mayors of Champaign and Urbana kicked off the event with speeches.
A light mist coated shiny instruments and drums as the Marching Maroons took the field with their 2026 program, “La Bella Luna,” followed by the Tiger Marching Band and their show, “Twinkle.”
The Marching Chargers performed their apocalyptic themed show in what appeared to be the final act, before their drumline broke into a cadence and the band jumped into choreographed dance. At that moment, the other bands returned to the field for a joint performance of “Hey! Baby,” conducted by Champaign Centennial drum major Kayleigh Grone.
Grone, a senior at Centennial, says music is so important for students like her.
“The way that it can grow your brain and the way that it can just make a space for everybody, no matter who you are, no matter what you do or what you enjoy,” Grone said. “Just keep supporting music. Keep supporting the arts; don’t let them get lost.”
The three schools don’t get to see each other’s shows often, according to Aubrie Williams, a member of the Centennial Band Boosters, which is made up of mostly band parents and helps organize events like the showcase.
A typical football game features only the home team’s band, she said, and marching band competitions are far too hectic for students to watch each other perform.
Aubrie’s daughter, Centennial senior Katherine Williams, plays trombone and says she’s grateful for all the support.
“There’s so many people who put this together like the parents and the directors and everybody who supported the fundraiser today,” Katherine Williams said. “It’s a really nice thing to do.”
Seeing all three bands on the field together is rare, Aubrie Williams said, making the night even more special.
It’s what makes this night such a highlight for assistant band director Brian Ford.
“You know, with sports and everything, we always see the cross town schools as rivals,” he said. “This, we get to see them as friends and neighbors, and seeing them just pile on the field out there and showing each other songs and dancing with each other — it’s the best thing in the whole year.”