Globe Gazette
Mason City, Cerro Gordo County, Iowa
May 28, 2001

MASON CITY — A crowd of North Iowa Band Festival King and Queen candidates was narrowed Saturday to two stunned young people.

“This is awesome. I wasn’t expecting this at all,” Queen Briar Tenold, a Northwood-Kensett High School alumnus, said after the awards ceremony in East Park. “This is an amazing opportunity because there are so many other awesome girls. I’ve loved band since fifth grade, so it’s a big deal.”

“I’m very surprised it was me,” said King Curtis Marker of Rockford Senior High. “It’s a great feeling, though, to be recognized by everyone.”

Marker was a trumpet section leader and played in honor band, pep band and jazz band at Rockford. He will study medicine at North Iowa Area Community College and the University of Iowa.

Tenold, an alto saxophonist and Honor Choir percussionist at Northwood-Kensett, will major in pre-vet/animal science at Iowa State University.

They succeed the 2010 Band Fest King and Queen, Jake Loken of Northwood-Kensett and Janessa Reding of Garner-Hayfield.

MASON CITY -- Briar Tenold and Curtis Marker reigned over festivities at East Park on Saturday afternoon as North Iowa Band Festival Queen and King.

Tenold is from Northwood-Kensett High School and Marker is a recent graduate of Rockford Senior High School.

Charles City High School was awarded the Meredith Willson Award, which is presented to the marching band with the overall highest score.

As host schools, Mason City High School and Newman High School marching bands are not eligible to participate in the competition, and their royalty are not eligible to be crowned festival queen and king.

To encourage participation in the marching band competition from area schools, the North Iowa Band Festival Committee provided travel stipends to each participating band.

Marching band award winners:
Middle School - first place, North View Middle School; second place, Clear Lake Middle School.
Class 1A - first place, Ventura High School; second place, Rockford Senior High School; third place, Northwood-Kensett High School.
Class 2A - first place, Lake Mills High School; second place, Garner-Hayfield High School; third place, Central Springs High School.
Class 3A - first place, Charles City High School; second place, Forest City High School; third place, Clear Lake High School.

Meredith Willson Grand Champion Award"
(for the band with the highest overall score from the judges) - Charles City High School.

Floats:
none listed

Grand Marshal Award:
(presented to the overall winner with the best use of the festival theme "Music is Magic") -
North Iowa Community Credit Union; second place, North Iowa Christian School; third place, Armour-Eckrich Meats.

Mr. Toot Award: (presented to the entry with the most originality, artistic quality, and well-crafted design based on a theme of their choice) -
Charles H. MacNider Museum; second place, Clear Lake Bank & Trust; third place, NSB Bank.

"Green" Award:
(presented to the entry that is environmentally-friendly in both construction and theme) - Friends of the 457.

The North Iowa Band Festival is sponsored each year by the Mason City Area Chamber of Commerce in honor of the community's musical heritage. Corporate donations and the volunteer efforts of scores of community members enable the chamber to offer the festival as a free event for all North Iowans to enjoy with family and friends.