Events & Calendar

Upcoming Concerts & Performances

All concerts start at 5:30 p.m. at Mount Ayr Community Schools unless noted; students report 30 minutes before (5:00 p.m.). Every event is also on the band calendar below.

Fall Band & Choir Concert — Tuesday, October 27, 2026, 5:30 p.m. MS Band, 6th Grade Band, MS & HS Choirs.

NWMSU Homecoming Parade (HS Marching Band) — Saturday, October 31, 2026. Call 6:45 a.m., bus departs 7:00 a.m., parade 9:00 a.m., Maryville, MO

Tingley Halloween Parade (80th annual, HS Marching Band) — Saturday, October 31, 2026, Tingley. Lineup 6:30 p.m., parade 7:00 p.m.

Veterans Day Assembly (HS Concert Band) — Wednesday, November 11, 2026. Students wear concert black to school.

Elementary Winter Concert with 5th Grade Band — Tuesday, December 15, 2026, time TBA

Band & Choir Winter Concert — Monday, December 21, 2026, 5:30 p.m.

Band & Choir Pops Concert — Monday, February 22, 2027, 5:30 p.m.

Iowa Wild Hockey Performance (rescheduled from October 23) — Friday, April 9, 2027, Wells Fargo Arena, Des Moines. Times TBA.

IHSMA Solo & Small Ensemble Contest (Class 1A) — Saturday, April 17, 2027, site TBA

Merrill Perry Spring Concert — Monday, April 26, 2027, 5:30 p.m.

IHSMA HS Large Group Contest — Friday, May 7, 2027, afternoon session, site TBA

HS Graduation Band Performance — Sunday, May 16, 2027, 3:30 p.m., MACS gym

Honor Bands & Trips

IHSMA State Marching Band Festival (spectator trip, optional) — Saturday, October 17, 2026, Waukee. Depart 7:00 a.m., home about 2:30 p.m.

SWIBA HS Honor Band — registration due November 6; auditions Saturday, December 12 (snow date December 16); festival Monday, January 18, 2027 (snow date January 20)

William Penn University Honor Band — Monday, November 9, 2026, William Penn University, Oskaloosa. Check-in 9:30 a.m.; concert 7:00 p.m., George Daily Auditorium. Selected HS students; no fee; lunch provided, dinner on your own.

Pride of Iowa (POI) Honor Band — Monday, March 1, 2027, hosted at Mount Ayr. Guest conductor Dr. Trent Hollinger. Congratulations to the 22 Mount Ayr students selected — see the spotlight on the Home page.

Pep Band — Home Basketball Doubleheaders

Girls 6:00 p.m., boys 7:30 p.m., Mount Ayr High School gym. Band call 6:15 p.m.

Friday, December 4 — vs. Nodaway Valley

Tuesday, December 8 — vs. Central Decatur

Thursday, December 10 — vs. Bedford

Tuesday, December 15 — vs. Lenox

Thursday, December 17 — vs. Worth County

Friday, January 22 — vs. Southeast Warren

Friday, January 29 — vs. Southwest Valley

Tuesday, February 2 — vs. Wayne

Friday, February 5 — vs. East Union

Monday, February 8 — vs. Clarke

Jazz Band Festivals

Simpson Jazz Festival — Thursday, January 21, 2027, Simpson College, Indianola

Southeast Polk Jazz Festival — Saturday, February 13, 2027, Pleasant Hill

SWIBA Jazz Festival — February 2027, date TBA

Iowa Jazz Championships — Tuesday, April 6, 2027, Ames