The Pride of Warsaw Marching Band has taken on The Pirates of the Caribbean this year. This is a three-part show, and the songs come from excerpts of the movie.
Director Sandra Stewart explained that this process can be very challenging, but it is starting to come together.
“We have a large group of rookies in the band and marching a show on the field can be really difficult at first, but it is starting to come together,” Stewart said. This is Stewart’s second year teaching at Warsaw.
Stewart held a summer camp to prepare band members for what they would be doing for the season.
“First, there was a percussion camp. We learned the first part of the show during that week. Then, there was camp with the rest of the band. We (the percussionists) taught the freshmen how to march and we practiced the show a lot,” freshman Piper Whipkins said.
Sophomore Kobie Gerstner plays percussion for the band. He believes the hardest thing about this routine is the steps in the routine.
Junior Haley Case is the drum major this season. She was inspired by those who led the band before her.
“I really learned everything from Alyson Alcantara, so really just watching her and falling in love with it!” Case believes their biggest challenge is listening and following instructions.
On Sept. 14, the band held a clinic at their home field. They were the last to play, and got notes from the two volunteer critics.
On Sept. 21, the band attended a competition at Carl Junction. They placed third overall for their class and for Best Winds for their class.
Freshman clarinetist Alma Jenson said competition was interesting to experience.
“There was a band who had their own drum show. It was crazy. We also got in the top three,” she said.
The band also was scheduled for competitions in Mount Vernon High School on Sept. 28 and Smith-Cotton High School on Oct. 5.