Mount Ida Marching Band field director Will Cole has been selected as a finalist in the 2020 United States Marine Band Concerto Competition.
Cole, who is a Junior at Mount Ida High School, has been playing trombone in the Mount Ida Band for several years and was promoted to Field Director this year. The trombonist has been selected for all regional and all state band many times and has been selected to participate in the all state jazz band as well.
He was notified recently by letter that he has been selected as a finalist in the concerto competition. The competition is sponsored by the United States Marine Band in conjunction with the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation. The annual competition allows one high school musician an opportunity to sit in as a guest soloist with the U.S. Marine Band.
The winner also receives a $2,500 scholarship. The runner up will receive a $500 scholarship.
Cole, and the other finalists, will travel to Washington D.C. Saturday, February 22, where they will compete in the finale in the John Philip Sousa Band Hall at the Marine Barracks Annex.
If he wins the competition he will then perform with the U.S. Marine Band Sunday, April 5, in Alexandria, Virginia.
Will is the son of Wes and Deana Cole of Mount Ida.
