Marching band earns 1 rating at 2017 Central States Marching Festival
October 12, 2017
The marching band earned a one rating at their marching band festival over the weekend. 40 other bands participated in this festival and earned rankings from one to five with one being the best.
“[Marching band] is a big time commitment,” head drum major Mary Sevart said. “We spend an hour and a half outside in rain and cold and awful conditions to work on our show every single day. I think we deserved a one for how much hard work we’ve put into this season.”
Not only did the marching band score seven ones from all seven judges, but the color guard also scored a one for the second time in 13 years.
Before arriving at the festival on Saturday afternoon, the band members performed at the Friday night football game and the Maize Fall Festival on Saturday morning.
Even though the season is in the fall, marching band preparation begins in the spring. The drum majors and section leaders are chosen before the school year ends.
The drum majors are then sent to Denton Texas for camp where they learn the basics of conducting, giving commands, and being leaders on the field.
A week-long camp over the summer prepares the rest of the band for the coming season.
“Usually we’ll do sets over ten times,” Allison Linton said. “Over and over until it looks good. And then we’ll do it the next day again to make sure it still looks good, and if it doesn’t we’ll do it again.”
The marching band’s next and last festival is in Andover on Wednesday, Oct. 25.
