Bands on track for fair

Band families would say it’s a question of how many, rather than if, nearby schools will qualify for Indiana State Fair Band Day’s night show on Friday, Aug. 2.

Last year, Centerville led the area with a fourth-place finish at Band Day, followed by Richmond, sixth; Winchester, seventh; Northeastern, ninth; Randolph Southern, 12th; Henry County Crimson Crusaders (including Tri), 19th; Monroe Central, 21st; Hagerstown, 24th; Lincoln, 34th; and Connersville, 35th.

During the 2023 day show, in Class AA, Centerville won first overall for bands, and Northeastern had the best color guard. Randolph Southern was first overall for Class A.

To prepare for this year’s state fair, several local bands completed their final preliminary competitions on Friday at Anderson and/or Saturday at Winchester.

Among Anderson’s 26 competitors, Centerville was third; Henry County, 11th; Hagerstown, 16th; Monroe Central, 17th; Randolph Southern, 24th.

All five Wayne County schools joined some neighbors in the 23-band field at Winchester. RHS was third; Centerville, sixth; Winchester, ninth; Northeastern, 11th; Henry County, 14th; Hagerstown, 17th; Monroe Central, 18th; Randolph Southern, 21st; Lincoln, 22nd.

Centerville’s soloists shine in eclipse show

Centerville’s Blue Regiment director is seeing daily improvement in his marchers.  

Jonathan Lucy said this year’s rehearsals have gone more smoothly without 2023’s smoky air from Canadian wildfires or heavy rainfall.

And, Lucy is grateful for a deep team of colleagues to guide students as he recovered from pneumonia early this summer.

He’s taught bands that have one or two staff members and appreciates Centerville’s willingness to provide assistants who offer specialized coaching from electronics to percussion. 

“The kids are getting better every day,” Lucy said. 

This year, Blue Regiment has 35 instrumentalists, eight color guard members, one drum major and four props helpers.

“Everybody’s here every day working hard,” Lucy said. “Small but mighty is OK. We don’t mind being smaller.”

Lucy said students enjoy the “Total Eclipse” show and musical arrangements that give them a great story to tell. 

Although some schools buy pre-designed shows, Lucy said he’s fortunate to have custom shows written to spotlight CSHS’ strong soloists. This year, those include clarinetist Tasha Jordan and Sydney Miles, who has solos for both flute and guard. 

Jordan, an incoming senior, enjoys making new friends each season.  

“We’re one big family, and with band director Lucy, we can help improve ourselves,” Jordan said. “We learn how to fit in a team, and that not just one person is important, but everybody.” 

Jordan said she’s also learned “how to have fun even when you’re really nervous.”

Miles, a super senior, said this year has been more stressful with two types of solos.  

“There are so many questions you don’t know how to answer until we try something,” Miles said.

Miles continued with band after graduation because she’s “not ready to give it up yet.”

She plans to study theater and education at Earlham College, then return to CSHS to help the band during her winter break. 

“Band has taught me how to be adaptable and roll with the punches,” Miles said. “It gives you a sense of community. Everyone here is my family and I love all of them.” 

Attitude, work ethic please Golden Tiger director

Hagerstown’s Golden Tiger Marching Band members — many of whom are new — are all in as they present “The Fountain of Life” for audiences.

“Everyone has an amazing attitude and work ethic,” said director Kendra Sanders, who is in her second year of rebuilding the band. 

Drum major Seth Taylor, a senior marimba player, said he enjoys band despite its occasional stresses.

“It’s taught me many leadership skills and patience,” Taylor said. “It’s made me realize how fun it can be in a group, and there can be hardships, but how fun it is to overcome those hardships.” 

Hagerstown is performing “Vitava (Die Moldau),” “Bacchanale” and “Oblivion.”

Samantha Cross, music boosters secretary, said it’s “an absolute joy watching them learn the ropes and seeing how strong they are in the heat.”

Emily Horner, guard manager, said she’s very proud of the performers.

“They’ve put in a lot of hot, sweaty hours,” Horner said. “There’s a lot of new young people working their butts off.”  

Abbie Gilbert, a sophomore guard member, said the band’s director is great, and members have learned a lot since last year and improved.

She said it’s easy to be nervous as the season begins, but it’s important to work through any fears at those early competitions as excitement builds for Band Day, the season’s last competition. 

“Everyone is at their best at state fair,” Gilbert said.

‘Abracapocus’ features LHS drumline’s return

Lincoln High School’s Golden Eagles are offering a mysterious show, mixing classical and contemporary music with cloaks and cauldrons. 

Director Ryan Schunk said the “Abracapocus” show has more depth than previous years, and performers have been working hard since June.  

“Instead of playing two or three songs in a row and stopping, this is a custom arrangement to make them flow into a continuous moving piece of work,” Schunk said.

He acknowledges the theme is less bright than some of LHS’ previous shows, but the 17-member band and color guard are enjoying conveying different emotions to their audience.

Schunk said LHS’ band size is consistent with recent years. He said a lot of other groups have seen declining membership.  

While there are lots of full ensemble moments, this year’s soloists include Caden Ripberger on baritone and Kerry Melerowicz on mellophone.

“I enjoy learning a whole show and watching it come together slowly and surely,” said Ripberger, a junior who also plays snare drum and drum set.  

In addition to the benefits of daily practice, he also likes seeing the band’s evolution since he joined as a rising eighth grader.  

Schunk also is proud that LHS has its first drumline this year since 2012, which was Schunk’s last year of marching with LHS as a student. 

“We’re here to entertain the audience and do better as musicians and performers,” Schunk said. “We’re using music as a vehicle for education.”

Chevelle Rose, a senior tenor saxophonist and aspiring forensic scientist, appreciates the band’s teamwork. 

“I like being able to interact with other bands to show our school pride and all the effort everyone puts in,” Rose said. 

Rose played clarinet in her first year of marching band, but chose to switch instruments. It paid off, because she’s made her way to section leader. 

LHS is performing its show at 2 p.m. Wednesday, July 31, at Cambridge City Public Library. Its last appearance before the state fair is 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 1, at LHS’ football field. Concession sales starting at 5 p.m. benefit the band. 

Marching Knights grow in size, enthusiasm

Northeastern High School aims to show audiences the full color spectrum through its “Color Palette” show. 

Director Kimberly Markiewicz said performers want to show everything fading to black at the end. 

She said the Marching Knights have a great leadership team that’s especially helping the band’s younger and new members. The band has doubled in size this year.  

“We have a really wonderful staff teaching students well, and we’re just excited for a really cool show,” she said. 

Havyn Abrams, a senior alto sax, took a break from band her junior year, but missed the music and opportunities to compete. She’s serving as a section leader. 

“I like leading kids and being their role model,” Abrams said. “I’ve always enjoyed performing and having free time after performances to talk with other schools.”

Abrams plans to study psychology at Earlham College and become a psychiatric nurse. 

Fellow senior David Parker, a trumpet soloist, said this year’s music is enjoyable and interesting to perform, and the flags add beauty.  

The show includes both “Paint it Black” by The Rolling Stones and “Lacrimosa” from Mozart’s “Requiem.”

Parker said he enjoys the exaggerations of dynamics, lovely chords and phenomenal pairings of tuba, bass and baritones with higher parts. 

“I’m really looking forward to showing what more we’re going to learn,” he said at this year’s Archway Classic contest. 

RHS energy high for ‘Gennett Legacy’

Aiming to build on its own Indiana State Fair Band Day legacy, Richmond High School is spotlighting the city’s jazz legacy.

RHS is performing a few of the tunes made famous after being recorded in Richmond. 

Director Dan Merkamp said students’ energy has been high and he can tell they’re enjoying performing “The Gennett Legacy.” 

In addition, RHS’ show received a positive audience response at the Archway Classic competition in Centerville to open the season, he noted.  

“Those are the things that really count,” Merkamp said.

This year, the Marching Red Devils have a few more performers than 2023, bringing the musicians and Devilettes to about 115.

Devilettes are dressing like 1920s flappers, and musicians are wearing zoot suit-style outfits as they perform Hoagy Carmichael’s “Stardust,” King Oliver’s “Dippermouth Blues” and Jelly Roll Morton’s “Grandpa’s Spells.”

Keeping with tradition, Richmond Music Boosters have gathered pennies from 1973, 1988 and 2024. Students tuck pennies from those years representing the school’s two prior Band Day championships and the current year into their shoes for good luck. 

Sophomore Brooklynn Cheek changed from trumpet to mellophone and likes being part of the band. 

“We all work hard together,” Cheek said. “It feels like we’re a big team working toward a big goal. It’s exciting to be on the field and have the opportunity to do all those things.”

Cheek said the band is lucky to have support from band parents and community members and said performing is “a great opportunity that everyone should be able to do.”

Cheek said that band has taught her to have a more positive outlook and develop leadership skills. 

“You see section leaders and learn a lot from them,” she said.