Classic on the Cane 2025 2025
Director Guidebook
WELCOME TO NSU
On behalf of our entire university, thank you for joining us at the annual Classic on the Cane Marching Festival at Northwestern State University. Nestled in the historic city of Natchitoches, I hope you enjoy the beautiful setting that we get to experience each day as faculty, staff, and students. If you decide to explore the downtown area, you will be greeted with the Southern charm that makes this area special.
Recognized as one of the premier marching festivals in the region, NSU's Classic on the Cane strives to provide a sound music education experience paired with the atmosphere of friendly competition Our adjudicators are highly respected in their area of expertise and are carefully chosen to provide positive and authentic assessments for every ensemble
Anthony Pursell Director of Bands
I hope that you will always keep Northwestern State University in mind when serving the needs of your program and your student's musical growth As a high school band director who took his program to NSU for several events, I am forever grateful for the professional delivery of content and good-natured people who welcomed us to campus. I hope you continue to trust us to deliver that experience now and in the future As we continue to strive and serve the evolving needs of your program, we would love to hear from you.
SCHEDULE
Bands are scheduled according to classification, based on band size (marching winds/percussion). Every effort has been made to schedule bands from the smallest classification to the largest; however consideration is given for travel and events that may ordinarily prohibit a band’s performance (ACT, etc.)
Classifications are:
IB – 40 or fewer marching winds/percussion (groups comprised of grades 7-12);
IA – 40 or fewer marching winds/percussion (groups comprised of grades 9-12);
II – 41-60 marching winds/percussion
III – 61-84 marching winds/percussion
IV – 85+ marching winds/percussion
Directors may opt to not compete in class by requesting comments only (CO).
The schedule will run in 15-minute intervals per band. To help maintain the day’s schedule and to assist in making the contest run smoothly, directors are asked to depart the warm-up area at the time indicated on the schedule and abide by the 15-minute time limit.
Bus/Equipment Truck Info & Director Check-In
Your Classic on the Cane band guide will reach out to you before your arrival on campus, the day of our event. Once you enter Northwestern State University via the Caspari entrance, please continue south. You will come to a 4-way stop sign and continue straight ahead (page 6). Please use the map on Page 7 to guide you to the Director Check-In. You will pass behind the home side of the stadium on your left. Continue driving straight and make your first left-hand turn into the Prather Coliseum Parking Area. The Director Check-In location will be at the Alumni Plaza. This location is circled in white. Once you arrive at Director Check-In, please pick up your packets, which will include a COC Program, wristbands for your staff/parent volunteers, etc..
REMINDER
Class 1 & 2 trailers will be parked in the Purple Lot notated on Page 7 of this guidebook
Class 3 & 4 trailers (Larger) will be parked in the Red Lot located by the tennis courts, as noted on Page 7 of this guidebook.
MAPS
BUS & EQUIPMENT TRUCK ROUTE
Police Station
PLEASE NOTE THAT TURPIN STADIUM ENFORCES A CLEAR BAG POLICY. IF YOU MUST BRING THINGS INTO TURPIN, WE WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR COOPERATION
BUS, EQUIPMENT TRUCK, & SPECTATOR PARKING
DIRECTOR CHECK-IN/BAND GUIDES
3/4 A Trailers
RESTROOMS & DRESSING ROOMS
Restrooms are located in the Alumni Pavilion and in Prather Coliseum and may be used for changing into uniforms.
For the safety and convenience of all guests attending the event, we ask that bands do not use the restroom facilities in Turpin Stadium to change into or out of their uniforms.
WARM-UP AREAS
There are two warm-up areas for bands. Your band's assigned warmup area is identified on the schedule in this document Warm-up locations are also identified on the band flow map on the Event Flow & Departure Map page.
Warm Up Location A is the Softball/Track Parking Lot
Warm-Up Location B is on Organizational Dr (between Baptist Collegiate Ministries (BCM) and Kappa Sigma)
Your band guide will help you locate this space when you are ready to go to the warmup area with your band.
At 10 minutes prior to your band's performance (see schedule), your band guide will take you to the entrance of Turpin Stadium NO CADENCE, drum taps, or other playing can occur outside of your warm-up area.
STADIUM ENTRANCE
Performers & Pit
FIELD MARKINGS
There will be 2 sets of hash marks on the field:
NCAA (Texas UIL) hashes (these are the painted/permanent hash marks) and the Louisiana High School Athletic Association hash marks (these hash marks will be tape marks on the field (see below).
While props are allowed, the use of confetti, powder, or similar substances is not allowed in Turpin Stadium.
Although a crew of NSU students will be manning the sidelines and assisting, they are not available to place props on the field. Please coordinate with your band students or other volunteers for this service.
ADJUDICATION PANEL
Kristen Eck
Music Performance
Dr. Andrew Hunter
GE Music Effect
Dr. Jack A. Eaddy Jr.
GE Visual Effect
Kevin Welborn
Music Ensemble
Dr. Molly Blair
Drum Major
Dr. Lauren Ryals
Percussion
Christopher McCarthy Color Guard/Auxiliary
ADJUDICATION & SCORING
Judges will use a criterion system that divides the scoring into four boxes, which will be consistent in the language used to describe the level of performance by each band, under each caption.
These criteria will correspond to a division rating of I, II, III, or IV and judges commentary will justify the selection of the criterion box used, as well as the number inside that range
There will be one judge for each of the following captions:
15% - Music Performance
25% - Music Effect
15% - Music Ensemble
25% - Visual Effect
10% - Color Guard/Auxiliary
10% - Percussion
The percentages next to each area indicate how that area is weighted when scores are tabulated.
honors former NSU band member, MrScotty Dawson for his energy and love for the NSU and the SON. A plaque will be presented to the selected supporters.
AWARDS
KEN GREEN “EXCELLENCE IN PERCUSSION” AWARD:
Mr Ken Green was the former Professor of Percussion and Assistant Director of Bands at NSU. In 2025, Mr. Green lost his battle to cancer. He dedicated his life to inspiring musicians to reach their highest potential This award is dedicated to his memory and will be awarded to the highest scoring percussion regardless of classification.
MOST OUTSTANDING SOLOIST:
One “Most Outstanding Soloist” award will be selected from each Classification by a vote of the band judges The awar in Classification IV is titled “THE THOMAS ROGERS AWARD” in memory of a Northwestern State band student who was killed in a tragic car accident several years ago Each soloist will be presented with a Band Scholarship to attend Northwestern State University and participate in the program
AWARD CEREMONY
A ceremony will be held at the conclusion of the competition.
Drum Majors, Captains of Color Guard, and Percussion will be requested to report to the North end zone near the scoreboard prior to the conclusion of the contest by the stadium announcer
BAND DIRECTOR HOSPITALITY ROOM
This room is assigned for band directors to relax and enjoy refreshments while the contest is in progress.
The room is located on the third floor of the stadium in the “Demon Den,” and refreshments will be served beginning around noon.
Access to Hospitality is via the stadium elevator under the press box on the west side of Turpin Stadium.
ADMISSION FEES
(SPECTATORS)
Participating band students are admitted free.
Directors will receive a wristband for each staff member and 5 additional wristbands for parent volunteers/pit crew helpers. These will be presented to you upon check-in.
Online prices before the event:
$15, general admission
$10, senior citizens/military/children 8 years and under/faculty, staff, and students with NSU ID
$5, Admission Package Add-On: souvenir program book, and a single ticket for the $1,000.00 Band Program Giveaway
$20 lottery ticket package: 15 tickets for the $1,000 Band Program Giveaway
Online and cash prices at the event:
$15, general admission
$10, senior citizens/military/children 8 years and under/faculty, staff, and students with NSU ID
$2 per lottery ticket for the $1,000.00 Band Program Giveaway
Souvenir programs will be available in the stadium for $10.00 on the day of the event. The Theta Nu Chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi will sell these programs in the main concourse.
A reminder that Turpin Stadium has a clear bag policy.
BAND SEATING
Please remind your students that when the bands are performing, they must be quiet in the stands during other performances.
We also ask that you not enter or exit the seating area during a band’s performance.
Seating is available on both lower & upper decks of the west stands (press box side) of Turpin Stadium.
SOUVENIRS
PEPWEAR of Midlothian, Texas, will again have a store located under the west concourse of Turpin Stadium.
They will have a wide range of band t-shirts and novelty items as well as the “official” Northwestern State Marching “Classic on the Cane” Contest T-shirt and patch.
Their contact phone number is 887-899-1919 wwwpepwearcom
CONCESSIONS
The concession stands will be open under stands on the West side of Turpin Stadium.
SHOUT OUTS
Messages of encouragement to bands or individual band members may be purchased for $2.00 at the Shout Out booth located near the concession stand.
Messages will be read aloud on the Public Address System before and after band performances.
All proceeds will benefit the activities of the Eta Pi chapter of Tau Beta Sigma.
"BAND" MEALS
If you would like to arrange a meal for your band on campus, it is recommended that you contact SODEXO Food Service, the food service provider at Northwestern State University
You may call them at 985-852-1315 (James Charpentier) to arrange a meal at Iberville Cafeteria.
You should find this an easy, not to mention cost-effective, way to feed your students without having to move your buses!!
EMERGENCY PHONE
Anthony Pursell, Director of Bands - (785) 250-5054
Trevor Bailey, Associate Director of Bands & Director of Athletic Bands(318) 554-9710
Dr. Andrew Blair, Assistant Director of Bands/Percussion- (828) 234-0862
NSU Press Box (318) 357-4529
University Police (318) 357-5431
CONTACT
'CLIFF-NOTES VERSION
This guide is intended to assist you in having the best experience possible, however, it may be overwhelming. Here are the highlights to help you get to campus and know what is going on:
Enter campus on Caspari Street only (there will be signs guiding you to turn on Caspari Street)
Equipment Trucks will park in one area and buses in another
Once your bus is parked, you will check in at the Alumni Pavilion, receive a welcome packet, and meet your band guides.
Facilities to change in and out of uniform will be available in Prather Coliseum
Warm-up areas are designed for you to do a warmup. The space is limited and will not allow for an entire practice field
Your band guide will assist you with time, so please let them know when you want to be reminded. They will let you know when you have to be at the gate 10 minutes prior to that time, as they will take into consideration walking time.
Bands will enter the stadium in the designated area without using a cadence, taps, etc
Pit/props, etc will use the gates identified for entry. Bands cannot use confetti or other powder-based materials on the performance turf.
All bands will leave the stadium as directed by our sideline crew.
At the conclusion of the festival, all buses and equipment trucks will use South Jefferson Street to exit campus.
WANT YOUR STUDENTS TO CONTINUE PLAYING BAND IN COLLEGE?
