Central Iowa hosts celebration of brass

Hundreds of young musicians from several states and Canada are in central Iowa today for an international competition. The “Celebration in Brass” contest features five of North America’s top-ranked division-one drum and bugle corps, including one band from northeastern Iowa.J-D Mullen is executive director of the Ankeny Chamber of Commerce, which is hosting the performances. He says the five bands each have about 135 members who range in age from 14 to 22. They’ll present their musical productions through choreography, costuming and intricate drill designs.Mullen says people come from all over the region to see the competition which features vividly colored uniforms and flags — and hundreds of horns and drums.There are two bands from Ohio, one from Wisconsin, one from Ontario — and Iowa’s own Colts of Dubuque. Bands are performing in warm-up sessions around the Des Moines area today, with the big show tomorrow night at 7 p-m at Ankeny High School Stadium.