The Siuslaw High School band begins its march to the state championships Thursday with the Great Western Music Championships at 1 p.m. at Western Oregon University in Monmouth.

"There are no automatic qualifiers," Siuslaw Director of Bands Chris Rowbotham said. "All bands that score higher than 75 from two separate judges will qualify for the tape pool."

A second qualifying event is the District Band Festival at 9 a.m. Wednesday, April 12, at Southwestern Oregon Community College in Coos Bay.

"Districts is another story, however," Rowbotham said. "The top band in the Far West League will receive an automatic qualifier if they score 75 or higher from two judges.

"The bands that also score higher then 75 from two judges will be allowed to qualify for the tape pool. Last year we qualified for the tape pool."

The Vikings band broke a nine-year drought a year ago when it was one of 11 schools to qualify for the Class 4A state championships.

Siuslaw did not place, but gained valuable experience, which Rowbotham hopes to capitalize on.

"Thursday comes fast, because we just had spring break, so we have three days to get everyone into shape," Rowbotham said.

The North Bend band is the defending 4A champion. Philomath was second place, Scappoose third and Douglas fourth in 2016.

The state championships are May 10-13 at the LaSells Stewart Center on the Oregon State University campus in Corvallis.

Finals for 3A and 4A are May 10, for orchestra May 11, for 2A/1A and 5A May 12 and for 6A May 13.

For more information, go online at http://www.osaa.org/activities/bnd/management.

The list of Siuslaw students performing includes:

Freshmen (19)

• Nina Aaron
• Andrew Alto
• Margot Fleming
• Destani Fuller
• Memphis Gliewe
• Caleb Hennessee
• Tiffany Hine
• Pedro Infante Marquez
• Chloe Madden
• Daniel Molano
• Jared Northrop
• Luke Olson
• Hannah Rannow
• Sydney Robison
• Elizabeth Rosinbaum
• David Spencer
• Elaijah Stachelrodt
• Caleb VanWinkle
• Anthony Yauger

Sophomores (13)

• McKenzie Colton
• Lupita Figueroa
• Tanner Hilterbrant
• Wrenn Holdren
• Maya Howard
• Jessalynn Keppol
• Audrey Lowder
• Timothy Lowder
• Daniel Olson
• Corbin Reber
• Patrick Rowley
• Lillian Wenham
• Nicholas Wilkinson

Juniors (9)

• Marina Arbogast
• Neil De Vera
• Isaac Griffes
• Kristopher Keppol
• Logan Lindner
• Edison Mielke
• Ariel Rosinbaum
• Cameron Utz
• Mallory Varas

Seniors (6)

• Sean Burns
• Benjamin Cahoon
• Chandler Call
• Blake Morrow
• Jack Pickell
• Jackson Spinner