Bleachers line the east and west walls of Century High School's gymnasium.

Today they stand empty and pushed against the walls, but on the evening of Oct. 30, sponsors hope to fill them with 2,200 people to watch the 25th annual Mandan Band Festival.

The yearly festival features bands from the four local high schools. It is usually held at Mandan High School, but this year the show has moved to Century to include the U.S. Army Field Band.

"It will give the people in the cities of Bismarck-Mandan a chance to get to hear our bands and, of course the U.S. Army Field Band," Bill Schmidt, band instructor at St. Mary's, said about the concert.

"It'll be a great time," MHS music director John Warren said.

Formed in March 1946, the field band has become known as "The musical ambassadors of the army." It has played in all 50 states, as well as at numerous prominent foreign affairs. The field band consists of four parts: Concert Band, the Soldiers' Chorus, the Jazz Ambassadors and the Volunteers. All four will be playing at the show on Oct. 30. However, they will be doing what's called the matinee version of their performance to allow time for the high school bands to play.

"They are a highly professional group … One of the top-notch bands in the U.S.," Warren said.

For the event, Bismarck High School will be paired with Century, and St. Mary's will be paired with Mandan.

"These are our top bands in the school … So we just combine them and let them work with these university people that come in," says Tim Fogderud, Century's band instructor.

Both groups have enlisted special guest conductors. William K. Wakefield, director of bands, ensemble division coordinator and professor of music at the University of Oklahoma, will lead St. Mary's and MHS. The guest conductor for BHS and Century will be Andrea DeRenzis Strauss, the director of bands at the Georgia Institute of Technology.

Starting at 7:30 p.m., each group of high school bands will play three selections. Then the field band will take the stage.

The concert is open to the public and free of charge but does require tickets. Tickets can be obtained from Eckroth Music, United Printing or the Bismarck Tribune.