Portraits in Steele | Page 20
The Owatonna High School Marching Band performs exhibition at the 2016 Harry Wenger Marching Band Festival. Now in its 11th year, the parade brings in roughly a dozen schools from across the state to show off their routines. (Press file photo)
Board members each do their e d i v Dai nd part to help Harry Wenger conquer: Marching Band Festival play on By BRIDGET KRANZ bkranz@owatonna.com
“I’m president,” explained Leslea Partridge, of her role with the Harry Wenger Marching Band Festival, “and I’m in charge of all things related to food — and other ancillary duties as may be assigned.” Laughing, she added, “Our titles don’t necessarily say what our job duties are.”
Fellow organizer John Degner, who’s in charge of fundraising for the event, nodded in agreement. On the seven-member board, everyone has at least one area of the marching band competition that they take the lead on, but — as Degner noted — something always comes up.
When it’s showtime for the festival in June, and nearly 1,400 participants arrive in town simultaneously, Partridge said it’s important to trust that these individual responsibilities have been looked after. “Our jobs have to dovetail,” she noted. “During the day, somebody’s working with
