Fifteen high school marching bands are set to meet Oct. 20 to compete for the top score in the 2012 Battle of the Bands competition.

This is the 11th year for the competition and Brandon Williams, Selma High School band director, said he couldn’t be more excited.

“We have a show lined up, of course, that’s going to be pleasing for both kids and adults,” Williams said. “There’s some ‘old school’ involved as well as some new stuff to get the younger generations involved, but all in all it should be treat for the whole family.”

Bands will have the opportunity to win trophies for best in class and superior ratings for overall band, flag line, dance line and majorettes.

The Selma High School Band hosts the competition each year to raise money for its program. This year, Williams said he hopes to raise enough money to purchase new uniforms.

“We got a new school and our band room is being renovated as we speak, so I figured why not have new uniforms as well,” he said.

This is the band’s premier fundraiser for the year.

Williams, who has been the band director for eight years, said he believes his students deserve new uniforms for all the hard work they do in the band and in the community.

“We definitely have done our share of support for the community and I just want for the kids to have something in return,” Williams said.

“The uniforms we wear now, it might not look like it, but they’re actually 10 years old.”

The Battle of the Bands competition will begin at 1:30 p.m. at Memorial Stadium. Tickets cost $8 and can be purchased at Selma High School, Concordia College Alabama, and One-Stop Records.

“We’re trying to get the whole Black Belt involved,” Williams said.

“The more people that come to participate, the better the day’s going to be. “I love my students, and I want them to have the best.”