Bands strive to grow, thrill communities

Although their shows look and sound unique, Wayne County’s band directors are proudly united about how much their students grew as musicians and leaders this summer. 

That hands-on learning culminated at Indiana State Fair Band Day on Friday, Aug. 2, which eastern Indiana schools dominated.    

Richmond’s “Gennett Legacy” tribute to the city’s 1920s jazz recording heritage led schools in Wayne, Randolph and Henry counties with a fourth-place finish. 

The Marching Red Devils and Devilettes performed Hoagy Carmichael’s “Stardust,” King Oliver’s “Dippermouth Blues” and Jelly Roll Morton’s “Grandpa’s Spells.”

RHS’ Director Dan Merkamp appreciates the outpouring of local support for his students and the legendary tunes.   

“We really wanted to put together something that our community could be proud of and reflect on our history,” Merkamp said. “…The kids learned to embrace and love that music. It’s really a win-win-win-win-win situation.”  

Some might not understand how band and athletics help students gain life skills and core values such as dedication and commitment that are hard to teach in classrooms, he said.  

“I saw a lot of growth in the students, not just in performing but taking on responsibilities and developing a stronger work ethic,” he said.

GALLERY: DAJO Photos captured these images from the August 2, 2024 event for the Western Wayne News

Senior Mathias Dunn moved from bass drum to quads this year, which are four larger and two smaller drums with different pitches. 

“Change is scary, but not always bad,” Dunn said. “A lot of good can come from change.” 

Merkamp said it’s been about 10 years since RHS placed so high at state fair, and he called fourth place “a pretty big accomplishment.” Performers achieved their goal to surpass 2023’s finish.

Merkamp is among directors who are hopeful that Band Day successes can inspire additional youth interest and community financial support for music education.  

Centerville residents celebrated their band’s sixth place overall and daytime honors. 

For the 12th year in a row, judges declared Centerville the best band in mid-sized Class AA. The Blue Regiment also won the class’ best visual effect, general effect and auxiliary.

Sophomore Abby Lainhart anticipates mentoring younger members as an upperclassman and telling her own kids about her marching band experiences. 

“It’s fun to make all those memories even though it can be difficult,” she said. 

Emily Jarvis, music boosters’ president, thanked Director Jonathan Lucy and his team for “pouring your hearts and souls into our kids all summer long.”

Jarvis said band staff worked many hours beyond 4-hour daily rehearsals to ensure students have the best possible chance of success with their “Total Eclipse” show.

“The musical and visual results you pull from our band and guard each summer speaks to your dedication and talent,” Jarvis said. “The lessons of hard work, self-reflection, accountability and perseverance that you teach will serve our children far beyond the yard lines of any field or track.”

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Winchester placed 10th, just one-tenth of a point higher than Northeastern, which finished 11th.  

The Marching Knights’ director, Kimberly Markiewicz, said Band Day was unpredictable because of Friday’s rainy and stormy forecast, but she didn’t doubt Northeastern students would rise to the challenge. 

“My favorite part of the day was conducting the night show performance and watching the rain clouds break and having the sun shine through onto the band,”  Markiewicz said.

Light helped make the Knights’ “Color Palette” show pop. 

“When we got done with the day show performance, I asked the students, ‘What did you think?’ And they all screamed with excitement,” Markiewicz said. 

The Knights couldn’t have had such a successful season without assistance from their “amazing” staff, music boosters, community supporters and parents, she said. 

“We were younger this year, but that made for an extra unforgettable season,” Markiewicz said. “The leader team took charge and helped our new marchers.” 

Charlotte Rayburn, a junior guard member, said she loves the state fair “because it’s so joyful and brings everyone’s happiness out.”

“You see their true personalities when they’re performing,” she said.

Rayburn encourages other students to join.

“Guard is very challenging, band is very challenging normally, but if you love to perform, go for it,” Rayburn said. “It will pay off in the end, I promise.” 

Henry County Crimson Crusaders, which includes Tri, Blue River, Shenandoah and Knightstown schools, finished 14th in its first-ever Sweet 16. The Crusaders combined three years ago.

The rebuilding Hagerstown program finished 22nd. Kendra Sanders said she’s extremely proud of her musicians and Tigerettes for their “exceptional” performance of “The Fountain of Life.” 

“They worked tirelessly this summer and it was clear that they were determined to excel,” Sanders said. “The music was challenging, but they mastered it with precision and skill. I wanted to inspire our students to reach their full potential and they surpassed even my highest expectations.”

Super senior Jimmy Doll, a drum major, said band offers lessons in leadership and maturity. 

“Being a leader for younger kids, you have to grow as a person because you need to be a role model for them,” he said. “…They push you to be better.”   

Many supporters, such as staff, parents and boosters, went above and beyond to help students, Sanders said.  

Sanders has been proud of the Golden Tigers throughout their 2023-24 competition season. Winter percussion and winter guard both earned gold at their state contests. 

Ryan Schunk, Lincoln’s director, also saw growth in his 17 students, some of whom played multiple instruments during the show. They earned 31st place overall and 26th in percussion. 

The middle/high school fielded its first drumline in at least a decade, and this was its first drumline to move during the show in at least 12 years.

Donations made it possible for LMHS to order new drums, but more gifts are needed to pay off those instruments and cover ongoing maintenance. 

LMHS is one of the smallest competitors, and “everyone wants to see us do well,” he said.    

The band’s 49.7 points were LMHS’ highest since Schunk became director in 2019, and beat some shows he marched in as a student from 2006-2012.

He looks forward to growing the band, saying the program is good for students and the community.

“The longer you work at something, the more improvement you see,” Schunk said.

Freshman clarinetist Jasper Irwin said everyone has been very welcoming, and he enjoys  band, even when summer rehearsals can be hot and tiring. 

Schunk said this season is especially meaningful because his daughter, Noa, was born June 11. He had about two weeks to adjust to fatherhood before beginning the band’s summer rehearsals.