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When Prince George's County Public Schools held its annual Marching Band Showcase on Oct. 14, there were no winners or losers. And the participants wouldn't have had it any other way.

"It's just fun and not competitive," said Melajero Williams, 16, a senior at Largo High School. "So it won't be like anybody's feelings will get hurt."

Eleven county schools participated in the showcase, which was held at High Point High School in Beltsville. The event gives band members a chance to entertain and interact with other bands they might not normally see during the year, said Kathy Rodeffer, the county's instructional music supervisor.

"It's an opportunity for bands to just perform for everyone in the community," she said.

The bands came from Bladensburg High School, Charles Herbert Flowers High School in Springdale, Crossland High School in Temple Hills, DuVal High School in Lanham, Gwynn Park High School in Brandywine, High Point, Largo, Laurel High School, Northwestern High School in Hyattsville, Oxon Hill High School and Surrattsville High School in Clinton.

They each practiced for months to play for about 10 minutes.

"They've been practicing since July," said Stella Cheeks of Camp Springs, the mother of Rodney Cheeks, a 15-year-old percussionist in DuVal's marching band. "And they've been just so excited the last week or so."

The show was scheduled to be held outdoors on High Point's football field, but organizers moved it into the school's auditorium because of rainy weather. The confines forced the bands to alter their routines and eliminate some marching, but most said it didn't affect their performances or spirit.

"It doesn't matter," Melajero said. "Even when it's indoors, you still get the same amount of effort and energy."

The bands cranked out and danced to hits from artists ranging from Earth, Wind and Fire to Beyonce, with the music of Michael Jackson being especially popular. They were cheered on by a capacity crowd that included hundreds of students, parents and staff members.

"It was great," said Nikki Locke, 18, a senior bass drummer in Laurel's band. "It was our best performance so far this year."

While the event included no official judging, the showcase was adjudicated by two music experts — Kelvin Williams, a band director at Howard University in Washington, D.C., and Lee Stevens, a retired band director for Howard County public schools. Each offered constructive criticism that the bands will see at a later date.

Some of the night's loudest applause came from the band members themselves, who clapped and sang along to each other's music throughout the event. Kendra Vincent, a senior baton twirler at High Point, said she appreciated the mutual admiration.

"We've been practicing every day since school started," said Kendra, 16, of Hyattsville. "When you hear people screaming for you, you know that they like what you're doing."

E-mail David Hill at dhill@gazette.net.