The marching band faced challenges beyond just learning a new routine for the year. The band gained its second new director in less than two years and adapted to many changes during the competition season.
“I believe that the biggest challenge was adapting to changes throughout our marching season. By the end of the season, however, we were able to overcome this obstacle and finish strong,” senior Alyson Alcantara said.
The band has had three band directors recently. Students didn’t know who would be the teacher until early in the summer. The new band teacher, Sandra Stewart, has been working with all thirty of the students in band and learning about them since band camp this summer weeks before the start of school.
“The biggest challenge for me as a director was to learn to know the students and what they were capable of and willing to do. That takes some time. I learned this group is full of people who love to make music and want to show off their skills on the marching field,” Stewart said.
Many of the musicians quickly adapted to the change to continue to perform.
“I learned that no matter how many band teachers we go through, we all pretty much stick together anyway,” senior Hannah Wooldridge said.
The theme for the marching show this year was “Step into the Light,” which was about good vs evil.
“The last band director chose the music. I listened to it and came up with a good vs evil theme reflecting how the music sounded and felt to me,” Stewart said. “The first movement is based on ‘Mars’ from ‘The Planet Suite’ by Gustav Holtz and is very dramatic and ominous. Mars is the Roman god of war and so we created a battle between evil and good. The last movement is based on two pieces called ‘Simple Gifts’ and Ode to Joy.’ These pieces are more sweet and beautiful. Of course, Good wins in the end!”
The band found success at contest.
On Sept. 30, the band attended the Smith-Cotton Marching Festival in Sedalia, MO. The band competed in the field show event against third other schools in their class to place first. They also were awarded outstanding percussion, outstanding auxiliary, outstanding visual and outstanding effects.
At the Valhalla Marching Festival at Parkview High School on Oct. 7, the band competed against five other schools in their class winning the award for Outstanding Percussion and second place in the class.
The last competition of the season was in Odessa on Oct. 14 where the band earned second place in their field show and fourth place for parade marching.
People in the band had their favorite part in the show.
“The fight scene between me and Dillan (Ellison) during the first movement,” was junior color guard performer Marissa Ricke’s favorite part.
The band has had a successful season. They placed first at Smith Cotton, second at Valhalla, second place in field and fourth in parade at Odessa.
Stewart was pleased with how the competition season went.
“They were willing to try the different ideas that I brought to the program and they were patient as they explained to me some of their traditions from the past. I’m excited for the rest of the year and I’m looking forward to next marching season when we can go to even more competitions,” Stewart said.
The students have learned many things this year
“I have learned that through dedication comes success, as our band has had the best season in my four years of marching,” Alcantara said.
The students have stuck together and have raised above.
“No matter how many hits we take as a family we will rise again from the ashes,” Ricke said.