About the festival
The Idaho District III Mel Shelton Marching Festival (commonly known as "D3") is a marching competition produced by District III of the Idaho Music Educators Association. IMEA is a state affiliate of the National Association for Music Education. D-III is only open to member schools, and is the culminating experience for marching bands in District III.
The festival is named in memory of Melvin L. Shelton, Boise State University Professor Emeritus and director of bands.
Shelton retired in 1991, was band director at Boise High School for nine years before coming to Boise State in 1968, where he taught until his retirement. He held the position of principal trumpet with the Boise Philharmonic and the Brass Ensemble for many years, was solo cornetist and conductor of the Boise Municipal Band; performed for many civic operas and musicals; and served on the summer music faculty at the University of Wisconsin, the University of Idaho and Ricks College (now BYU-Idaho). He won numerous awards for his compositions, which have been performed throughout the United States, Europe, Australia and Japan. Among his many other activities, Shelton established the Boise State University Jazz Festival (now the Gene Harris Jazz Festival) and the Treasure Valley Concert Band, which is made up of adult musicians from all walks of life. Upon his retirement, Boise State awarded him the prestigious Silver Medallion. In 2005, U.S. Sen. Mike Crapo presented Shelton with the Spirit of Idaho award in recognition of his efforts to “enrich the lives of others, educate young people, inspire creativity and provide beauty and drama that resides in the music of the heart.”
The festival is named in memory of Melvin L. Shelton, Boise State University Professor Emeritus and director of bands.
Shelton retired in 1991, was band director at Boise High School for nine years before coming to Boise State in 1968, where he taught until his retirement. He held the position of principal trumpet with the Boise Philharmonic and the Brass Ensemble for many years, was solo cornetist and conductor of the Boise Municipal Band; performed for many civic operas and musicals; and served on the summer music faculty at the University of Wisconsin, the University of Idaho and Ricks College (now BYU-Idaho). He won numerous awards for his compositions, which have been performed throughout the United States, Europe, Australia and Japan. Among his many other activities, Shelton established the Boise State University Jazz Festival (now the Gene Harris Jazz Festival) and the Treasure Valley Concert Band, which is made up of adult musicians from all walks of life. Upon his retirement, Boise State awarded him the prestigious Silver Medallion. In 2005, U.S. Sen. Mike Crapo presented Shelton with the Spirit of Idaho award in recognition of his efforts to “enrich the lives of others, educate young people, inspire creativity and provide beauty and drama that resides in the music of the heart.”