Plymouth High School to welcome more than 2,500 student musicians for ISSMA Marching Band Invitational

Plymouth High School will become a hub of marching music this Saturday, October 3, as the Pride of Plymouth welcomes 26 marching bands and more than 2,500 student musicians from across Northern Indiana for the ISSMA Scholastic Prelims/Open Class Invitational.

The event marks the first round of the Indiana State School Music Association's marching band state tournament for Open Class programs and serves as the state preliminary/qualifying round for Scholastic Class bands. From nearby programs including Triton, LaVille, Jimtown, and John Glenn to bands from NorthWood, Northridge, Fairfield, Concord, Elkhart, and beyond, students from throughout the region will come together at Plymouth High School for a full day of competition and performance.

Performances begin at 11 a.m., with the final awards ceremony scheduled for approximately 8 p.m. Bands will begin arriving on campus around 8 a.m., followed throughout the day by thousands of spectators. Ticket prices are as follows: Adults $13 and Students/Pre-School $7 (50 cents extra for credit/debit sales).

The Pride of Plymouth will take the field at 7 p.m.

For Plymouth, hosting the invitational represents more than a day of competition. It is a major community event made possible by the support of PHS and Lincoln band students, parents, alumni, grandparents, volunteers, and band supporters, who will help welcome visiting bands and spectators throughout the day.

“This is an incredible opportunity for Plymouth to showcase not only our band program, but our entire community,” said Band Director Bryan Ames. “Hosting an event of this size takes an incredible amount of teamwork. We are grateful for the many students, families, alumni, and volunteers who give their time to make this event possible and help us welcome more than 2,500 visiting student musicians to Plymouth.”

A Tradition of Excellence

The Pride of Plymouth has built a strong tradition of excellence on the marching field. The program made Plymouth High School history in 2010 when it advanced to the ISSMA State Finals for the first time, finishing fifth in Class C. The band returned to State Finals in 2013, placing 10th in Class B.

The success of the marching band is part of a broader tradition within the Plymouth Band Program. In 2026, Plymouth earned its 23rd consecutive ISSMA All-Music Award, a distinction recognizing excellence across the program's marching, jazz, concert, and solo/ensemble performances. Plymouth is the only Indiana band program to have qualified for the award every year since its inception.

The Pride of Plymouth also represents students from throughout the Plymouth community, with the marching program drawing students from grades 8–12 across the district.

The community is invited to come out, experience the excitement of marching band competition, and support the Pride of Plymouth at 7 p.m. Ticket prices are as follows: Adults $13 and Students/Pre-School $7 (50 cents extra for credit/debit sales).