The annual Northwestern State University marching contest will be held Saturday, Nov. 4 at Turpin Stadium on the NSU campus. Admission is $5.

The first performance begins at 8:45 a.m. The "Spirit of Northwestern" Marching Band will perform at 5:30 p.m. An awards ceremony will be at 5:45 p.m.

The top overall band will be named Grand Champion. Top bands will also be selected in one of four classifications along with a top color guard, percussion section and drum major in each class. An award will be presented for the most entertaining show. An outstanding soloist will be chosen in each classification. Those attending are also eligible to receive the "Most Spirited Supporters" Award.

Thirty high school marching bands from Louisiana, Texas, Arkansas and Mississippi are scheduled to compete.

Bands competing in classification I are Leesville, Merryville, Jena, Carencro, Ouachita, Like Oak, Port Allen, Franklinton and Alto (Texas).

Schools in classification II are Central, Tioga, Bossier, Florence (Miss.), Walker, Kaplan, Buckeye, Hope (Ark.), Hooks (Texas), and Erath.

Those competing in classification III are Grant, Barbe, Arkadelphia (Ark.), Denham Springs, Little Cypress ­ Mauriceville (Texas), Ruston and Zachary.

West Monroe, Parkway, Haughton and Forney (Texas) will be in classification IV.

Judges for the competition are Kenneth Vise of Lake Travis (Texas) High, Michael Lipe of Wylie (Texas) High, Texas UIL Executive Secretary Randy Bartlett, James Thomas of Dallas, John Brennan of Plano East (Texas) High School and Kristen McLaurin Thompson of Atlanta, Texas.