State high school students bang to the beat during a battle of the bands.
A competition called Launchpad culminated in Madison Saturday night as six high school band finalists vied for a gig at Summerfest 2006, a professional recording session, and other awards.
Organizers say the event seeks to use song to celebrate the reach of music education. 75 high school bands submitted musical entries in April and more than 80 percent of the music submitted is original. Eric Runestad says, "Every band has to have at least one member of that band who's in the school band, orchestra or choir, so we're bridging the connection between what happens inside the school and what happens outside the school."
Representing the Madison region were both Madison Memorial and Middleton High Schools.
