|
Post by boahistorybuff on Sept 24, 2021 21:38:44 GMT -6
Hello! 1. Oklahoma 2. Union 1987-1990, and now BA parent 2018-2021 3. No 4. High school band memories... Union's shows 1987-1990... No props, but we sure filled the field with a lot of jazz runs. Our percussion & color guard were phenomenal. 1987: Carnival Overture, Scheherazade, Flight of the Bumblebee, Swan Lake * 1988: Carmen *#1989: Don Juan, Toccata & Fugue *#1990: Spartacus *Beat BA at State, #Placed 11th then 9th at GN Music that still makes my heart cry - Khachaturian's Adagio from Spartacus, which was also in BA's 2014 FaceMe show. Haha - Spartacus? show ending, at one point, had us going up into the bleachers to die. A new rule was made, and this was quickly changed to us dying on the field. Holiday Bowl 1988 - We and other bands were combined for a musical performance, with a long field rehearsal. It seems like the director in charge was drunk, and we got bored to the point of all swapping instruments. He said we sounded wonderful. I'm so glad one of my kids is also in marching band, I'm proud of The Pride of Broken Arrow, and I love the camaraderie among marching band kids & alumni. 2018: THE United States of America - my personal favorite. 2019: Yee Haw - another fun one. 2020: The Show Must Go On (Queen) - in which BA declared themselves National Champions, haha. 2021: ?! ... sounds good, whatever it is!
Band kids call me Mom. Saw your band live at Grand Nationals in 1989 and 1990 and loved your shows. Our guard members especially LOVED your guard in the 1990 Spartacus show. Don't get me started on that drum line.
|
|
|
Post by grhen21 on Sept 25, 2021 7:13:59 GMT -6
Really, wow! and thanks! It's been cool to come back onto the scene 30 years later and find Wes Cartwright still an active legend.
|
|
|
Post by mtnxdrew on Oct 17, 2021 13:34:41 GMT -6
I’m from Michigan.
I marched in the Jenison High School Marching Band from 2003-2006. Was a “band aid” In 2002.
During my time, 2 state championships, 1 regional class championship, and two time semi finalist
Jenison has been around for awhile, and while they aren’t necessarily a national power, I would think most band nerds know the name, and consistently place high in Class AA at Nationals:
Accolades 10 time Michigan state champion (Most Recent: 2019) 11 time regional class champion (Most Recent: 2021) 2nd in AA at 1999 Grand Nationals 3rd in AA in 2006 2 time Grand National Finalist (1992, 1994) Consistent Grand National Semi Finalist (Most Recent: 2019)
Good to meet everyone!!
|
|
|
Post by boahistorybuff on Oct 18, 2021 5:40:49 GMT -6
I’m from Michigan. I marched in the Jenison High School Marching Band from 2003-2006. Was a “band aid” In 2002. During my time, 2 state championships, 1 regional class championship, and two time semi finalist Jenison has been around for awhile, and while they aren’t necessarily a national power, I would think most band nerds know the name, and consistently place high in Class AA at Nationals: Accolades 10 time Michigan state champion (Most Recent: 2019) 11 time regional class champion (Most Recent: 2021) 2nd in AA at 1999 Grand Nationals 3rd in AA in 2006 2 time Grand National Finalist (1992, 1994) Consistent Grand National Semi Finalist (Most Recent: 2019) Good to meet everyone!! Good to see another fellow Michigander on the Forums. When I marched in Flushing (88-91), Jenison was one of our biggest competitors. I have a post on the vintage video thread which showcases your band's 92 and 94 Grand National Finals performances. While Flushing had some struggles and dropped off the top of the MCBA rankings after I left, it is nice to see that your band has maintained such a strong program for so many years.
|
|
|
Post by hostrauser on Oct 19, 2021 14:21:51 GMT -6
LOL. Okay, let me do this. I currently live in Milwaukee, WI. But long ago, I lived and schooled in Northern California... Foothill H.S., Sacramento, CA 1990 - did not march (I did not, the band did) 1991 - parade competitions only 1992 - parade & field show 1993 - parade & field show We were a small school (would have been BOA Class AA), small band, but pretty decent. Usually marched about 35-40 musicians and 15-20 guard. Won quite a few local awards. 1992 was the school's first time doing competitive field show since the late 70s/early 80s, and we took High Music at our very first show (only eight bands, but still!) My total high school marching band experience consisted of 6 competitive field shows and 12 competitive parades. Only local NCBA competitions, no WBA or BOA. The highlight of my high school marching band career was probably leading off the Aladdin parade at Disneyland. The school was middle/lower-middle class when I was there, and I think the neighborhood now is even poorer. Never rolling in money and with no help from the state, I don't think the school even has a band program any more. After graduating high school I moved on to DCI. I was about to try out for the Freelancers in 1995 when they folded right before the first camp, and then I tried out for the Blue Devils in 1998 and was cut immediately for being the worst marcher in the history of the known universe. Since then, I've stuck with being a fan and a stats nerd.
|
|
|
Post by weisstrombone on Oct 21, 2021 9:55:20 GMT -6
I am from Texas
I march at Weiss High School in Pflugerville and this is my junior year
2019- Marched Show 2020- Had a non-comp show 2021- Marching
My school is only 5 years old but we have won some notable awards and have been state finalist. We achieved state finals in our 2019 year making 11th place for 5A which is still to this day one of the happiest moments of my life. This year we have been able to achieve 12th at BOA Austin and 9th at TMC. In 2018 (before i was here) we made it to finals at the St. Louis Super Regional as a 2A band. Over the course of the 5 years of our existence we have seen exponential band growth and are moving up to 6A next year. We are a very young program with hopes to be next to the big players in BOA in the next coming years.
|
|
rickofavon
Senior Member
Never let the drumming die.
Posts: 75
|
Post by rickofavon on Nov 18, 2021 10:44:44 GMT -6
I thought it would be interesting to get a little info about the folks and their bands on this forum or those who will likely be joining in the near future. Some of the info may be added into the season review section under the History folder. There may also be some questions I have of some of you that may help fill in some of the gaps on the history sections. So I thought it would be interesting to do a quick survey of the members (and new members as they join). I understand that we all like to keep some degree of privacy, so the questions will be very general. If you have the time, please reply with the answers to some (if not all) of these questions.
1. What state do you currently live in?
2. If you are a past or current student, what band were (are) you in (band and state) and what years were you active in it? If you are (were) a parent or instructor/director, what band do you associate yourself with and what years were you associated with that band?
3. Were you involved in drum corps, winter guard, indoor percussion, etc and if so what corps, guard, etc?
4. Tell us about your high school band. For instance, if you know some of your bands history, please share. What competitive circuits was your band active in (or band you are associated with)? Can you list some of your bands acomplishments (no need to be modest)? What other bands were your big competitors? Did you compete in Bands of America (or for old school folks Marching Bands of America) and if so what competitions did you compete in; was your band a finalists, semi finalist, champion, etc? (Again no need for modesty here).
1. Avon, Indiana. I never got out! 2. Alumni. Avon Marching Black and Gold from Avon, IN 2003-2007. Because of the depth of our percussion program I was regulated to Cymbals for 3 marching seasons. Played quads my senior season. Played 4th bass one winter season and quads another. 4 time IPA Timpani soloist champ. I was an front-ensemble instructor for Martinsville, IN for a season and then a percussion director with Speedway, IN under the Track & Field band competitions for a few years. Spent 3 years with Danville, IN as a front-ensemble instructor. 3. I tried out for Blue Stars when they resurfaced but after switching majors at college, parents not helping foot the bill and a general realization that DIV 1 corps percussion was somewhat beyond my skillset I didn't pursue. Tried out for Redline in the winter as well which I would have been a part of but again, the traveling from Muncie to Michigan was just impossible for me. 4. Avon's always had a well-sized band even in the early 80s. I believe they made ISSMA Class C Finals one year in the 80s. My sister was a marimba player in the band when I was younger and they were in class B, struggling to make it past ISSMA regionals. Mr. Row was the director for a long time prior to Jay Webb's arrival in the early 90s. They compete in ISSMA, Class A but have been Class B and Class C prior to that. 14 years on the GN Finals podium continuously. 19 straight GN Finals appearances. A fist full of state titles. Only band to win Class Championships in three different classes. 9 GN Finals Visual Caption awards. 15 Finals Caption awards tied with Carmel for the most. After 2021, the second highest score for a GN Finals champion. Highest score for 2nd and 3rd placement at Grand National Finals. Probably one of the biggest drops from semis to finals ever in 06, finishing second in the class and dropping to 7th in finals. I never medaled when I was in it but we made finals all four years. First class to win four Class A ISSMA titles. We captured 2 GN Finals Visual Caption awards while I marched. One of the only bands to do an actual run through ( marching and all) for our first BOA Indy Regionals win in 06. ( I'd love to know if any other group did that). I got to finally touch the Eagle in the band room in 2008. 2nd 3-peat Champion. Finished 3rd 3 times in a row during the 2010s. Viewed Carmel, Lawrence Central (now Lawrence Township), Homestead and our big competitors. Didn't think much of other groups outside of Indiana because we were so fresh to Finals I usually knew we weren't going to win it all so it was just seeing if we could be the best Indiana had to offer at Grand Nationals.
|
|
|
Post by ilikeguard on Nov 18, 2021 13:02:53 GMT -6
1. I currently live in Columbia, Missouri. MIZ! Though once I graduate I plan to relocate to San Antonio for grad school. I was a Texan back in elementary school and I’m making my grand return!
2. I was in the Camdenton HS color guard during their 2017 and 2018 seasons, as well as on Varsity Winter Guard in 2019. I moved fairly regularly as a kid (military brat), so I didn’t know too much about marching bands until my brother joined concert band in his seventh grade year. That same year I auditioned for color guard and we marched together my senior year! In 2019 and 2020 I was a member of the Marching Mizzou Color Guard. I’m not an instructor anywhere currently but it’s one of my goals in the future! I also played baritone in concert band at Camdenton and Mizzou.
3. My only indoor performance experience is with the Camdenton HS WG, but I’m headed into my second year of doing social media for WGI. I covered WGI Tulsa in 2020, and this coming year I’ll be taking pictures at WGI Kansas City. I can’t handle heat at all so I don’t think I would have survived if I had tried to march DCI. Once I’m past age-out age, though, I’m hoping to travel with a corps on media team.
4. The years I marched at Camdenton were near the beginning of their current success (and also near the end of Paul Baur’s time as director). In 2017, we attended BOA Powder Springs, Golden Regiment Invitational, Ozarko Invitational, and BOA St. Louis. That year was “Tickled Pink”, aka “the pink panther show”. We placed 4th at Powder Springs and won AA. I can’t remember which invitational, but at one of them we beat Grain Valley in prelims and then swapped places in finals. At St. Louis, we made finals for the first time in the history of the band! We were 12th in prelims but had never experienced finals before and dropped to 14th after a performance with lots of excitement and not so much precision. It was exhilarating! I met friends at retreat that I still keep up with. In 2018, we attended BOA Clarksville, Branson Invitational, BOA San Antonio, and Grand Nationals. That was “Red Hot”, the spiritual successor to Tickled Pink. We missed finals at Clarksville by a fraction- we averaged about 6th and were even 2nd in one ordinal, but we had electronics issues that a judge thought was intentional and he put us somewhere like 21st. I’m only a little bit salty that regional finals have expanded to 12 place 😅 We were the obvious favorite to win Branson, but the contest was rained out. At San Antonio we placed 3rd in AA. That was probably my favorite school trip of all time! Shortly after I had a conversation about it on Instagram with a junior at Vista Ridge. 3 years later and he’s my boyfriend! It’s wonderful the kind of people you meet competing nationally. That year was Camdenton’s first appearance at Grand Nationals. We were all pretty bummed that we’d gone the entire season without performing in finals- the drum majors even had special uniforms that they were sure they wouldn’t get to wear. Then we made semifinals! Camdenton is the second band from Missouri to do so. Our center drum major was also in the running for homecoming that year and wore a gorgeous red dress for our 7AM performance. I wanted to watch semifinals and dragged my brother (who slept through the majority of it). My friend and I somehow convinced our parents to stay behind while the band drove home so we could watch finals and it’s one of the best decisions I’ve made. Past my years, my little brother marched euphonium 2018-2021, aiding Camdenton in their 2019 St. Louis class championship and finals performance and their 2021 regional championship at Iowa. I was in the audience screaming for as many bands as I could. Then I worked with Box5 this year to run social media at St. Louis! We were a little disappointed when Camdenton missed finals (especially by such a small margin!) but in my brother’s words, “the freshmen needed to be humbled). Among all of the underclassmen crying, he was smiling- he was completely satisfied with the outstanding four years he’d given to the program.
|
|
|
Post by vidal28rdg on Nov 20, 2021 15:05:39 GMT -6
I was born and raised in Austin, Texas....and I am still here!
I attended Westlake HS (TX) from 1997-2001. I played the Bassoon (1st chair District/Region Band/Orchestra a couple years) and was in Color Guard for marching season (Guard Captain - can't recall which years). My son is currently on the Drum Line at James Bowie HS (TX). 2018-2022 My step-son plays Tuba/Sousaphone at James Martin HS (TX). 2017-2021
I attended George Mason Univ. near Washington D.C. for a dance degree and sadly did not follow my dream to join DCI. My son will be auditioning for Genesis this year. My step-son will be auditioning for Santa Clara Vanguard this year. They both have high hopes of many years with the DCI circuit.
I have the best of memories with Westlake HS. Randall Brownlee was our new Color Guard instructor when I started and it was an absolute joy to work with him. He really propelled our program in a big way with his show design for Marching Band and Winter Guard. We had LONG marching seasons since our football team was regular State Champions during those years. I now see both of our boys performing under the Alamodome just as I did so many years ago. Pretty magical.
Happy to be amongst all you marching band and music lovers!!
I am happy to report that both boys marched with DCI for the 2021 season. My son marched with Compass Drum & Bugle on their Bass Drum line this year. My step-son marched with the Crossmen Drum & Bugle on the Contra line this year. Happy to be back and watching all the great marching shows again!!! Cheers! Oh whoa!! Scrolling back on thread can surprise you sometimes, I went to Martin from 2014-2018, I might’ve known your step-son from band, hopefully i did too, definitely wishing him luck with auditions, LET’S GO WARRIORS!!
|
|
|
Post by summoner on Mar 21, 2022 18:26:21 GMT -6
Solo project (one man band) - HAIDUK [death metal]
1. Alberta (Canada)
2. Self taught.
3. No need.
4. Band was formed after I graduated high school.
Track #2 from the new album Diabolica
|
|
|
Post by ilikeguard on Mar 22, 2022 20:33:25 GMT -6
Solo project (one man band) - HAIDUK [death metal] 1. Alberta (Canada) 2. Self taught. 3. No need. 4. Band was formed after I graduated high school. Track #2 from the new album Diabolica
This is definitely a different interpretation of the prompt 😂
|
|
|
Post by LeanderMomma on Mar 22, 2022 20:43:53 GMT -6
Solo project (one man band) - HAIDUK [death metal] 1. Alberta (Canada) 2. Self taught. 3. No need. 4. Band was formed after I graduated high school. Track #2 from the new album Diabolica
This is definitely a different interpretation of the prompt 😂 I thought so too! 😅
|
|
|
Post by neop on May 13, 2022 22:58:29 GMT -6
1. Ohio
2. I was a member of the Amherst Steele H.S. Marching Comets from Amherst, OH from 2015 to 2018.
3. I was also a member of the Amherst Steele H.S. Indoor Performance Ensemble in its only season (2018).
4. Amherst Steele is a fairly well known band in the OMEA circuit. Bands from north Ohio are typically not as strong or well-funded as bands from central or southwest Ohio, but the name Amherst Steele is likely recognizable by most OMEA spectators. The band regularly achieves the title of Grand Champion at OMEA events, as well as various caption awards. They also have received a Superior (I) rating at OMEA State Finals every year since 2005. For those unaware, Ohio marching band is a bit unique in that OMEA State Finals isn't actually a competition. Firstly, only bands that have received a rating of Superior at any local competition (regardless of actual score) can attend. At state (as well as local competitions), each band performs for judges in pursuit of the highest rating they can achieve, ranging from a I (Superior) to a V (Poor). Most bands at state receive Is or IIs, but the occasional III rating has been issued. Ratings of IV or V might be seen at local competitions around the state. There are no scores at State, only ratings, meaning there is no direct competition.
We competed in class AA in this circuit (the highest class, containing schools with enrollments of 901 and above), and our rivals were typically Medina, North Royalton, and Brunswick (the last of which might be recognizable to spectators of Grand Nationals in the late '00s and early '10s).
The band has never competed outside OMEA, though I do understand a voyage into BOA has been on the table for the last 6 years or so. I'm not quite sure how they would do, considering the frequently old school style of their shows. However, it would be very exciting to see my alma mater make the leap to BOA.
|
|
|
Post by Shroom on May 30, 2022 17:34:09 GMT -6
1. Illinois, moving to Carmel in a few months to attend Butler University.
2. I marched bass clarinet 2018-2021. 2018 was my favorite year but 2019 was by far the strongest the marching program has ever been. We didn't do anything in 2020 because Illinois is hell. 2021 went basically perfect given our circumstances even if our marching placements weren't what I initially hoped.
3. I plan to hopefully engage in some sort of indoor winds activity in the next two years. If I win the lottery or if I get hit by a campus bus and my student debt gets forgiven then I'll go march DCI. As much as I love the marching arts, I love food and not being homeless more.
4. I'm not incredibly familiar with anything pre-2017, but I do know O'Fallon Township won Clarksville in 2015 and did very well at guard in 2011(?). In the mid 80s to early 90s O'Fallon Township was a regional power with an uncharacteristically massive band for the area. There was a dip in performance in the early 2000s until we got our current director around 2008. As of right now we're sitting at 28 consecutive wins at the VP Parade on July the 4th in St. Louis. We've won Clarksville the two times we've gone (2015 and 2018), placed 3rd at St. Louis in 2017, and placed 12th at Grand Nats 2018. 2019 was likely our strongest year in terms of a marching ensemble, and 2021 stands to be our strongest year as a program overall. We've marched in the Pasadena Tournament of Roses like 3 or 4 times, with the most recent being this year in 2021. OFT marched in the Marcy's Parade in 1999, with another appearance in 2023. OFT will attend the 2022 Midwest Clinic. We don't really have any "rivals" like the intro post mentions, since we're so far south in the state that the cultural/economic/geographical difference between bands like us and Lockport/MC/LW are large enough to scew most notions of familiarity. Franklin, TN and OFT are somewhat linked together after Clarksville 2018 and our bands are extremely close considering the distance. There was actually a plan for OFT to visit Franklin in 2019, but COVID got in the way. The extremely talented artists at Franklin also decided to commission PG13 Franklin x O'Fallon art, which is the most band kid thing in the world and I'm not posting it here. Our assitant director has a cat named Greg Bimm.
Extremely proud with how 2021 went coming off of not having a program in 2020, as the honors band which I was a part of basically had a perfect spring concert season, winning all-state over our rivals Chicago rivals in Lockport and securing an appearance in the 2022 Midwest Clinic. I see the band program to eventually have the same potential as bands like Blue Springs/Coppell/William Mason should things continue in their current direction for another 3 to 4 years, especially as O'Fallon as a community continues to grow.
|
|
|
Post by boahistorybuff on May 31, 2022 16:06:31 GMT -6
1. Illinois, moving to Carmel in a few months to attend Butler University. 2. I marched bass clarinet 2018-2021. 2018 was my favorite year but 2019 was by far the strongest the marching program has ever been. We didn't do anything in 2020 because Illinois is hell. 2021 went basically perfect given our circumstances even if our marching placements weren't what I initially hoped. 3. I plan to hopefully engage in some sort of indoor winds activity in the next two years. If I win the lottery or if I get hit by a campus bus and my student debt gets forgiven then I'll go march DCI. As much as I love the marching arts, I love food and not being homeless more. 4. I'm not incredibly familiar with anything pre-2017, but I do know O'Fallon Township won Clarksville in 2015 and did very well at guard in 2011(?). In the mid 80s to early 90s O'Fallon Township was a regional power with an uncharacteristically massive band for the area. There was a dip in performance in the early 2000s until we got our current director around 2008. As of right now we're sitting at 28 consecutive wins at the VP Parade on July the 4th in St. Louis. We've won Clarksville the two times we've gone (2015 and 2018), placed 3rd at St. Louis in 2017, and placed 12th at Grand Nats 2018. 2019 was likely our strongest year in terms of a marching ensemble, and 2021 stands to be our strongest year as a program overall. We've marched in the Pasadena Tournament of Roses like 3 or 4 times, with the most recent being this year in 2021. OFT marched in the Marcy's Parade in 1999, with another appearance in 2023. OFT will attend the 2022 Midwest Clinic. We don't really have any "rivals" like the intro post mentions, since we're so far south in the state that the cultural/economic/geographical difference between bands like us and Lockport/MC/LW are large enough to scew most notions of familiarity. Franklin, TN and OFT are somewhat linked together after Clarksville 2018 and our bands are extremely close considering the distance. There was actually a plan for OFT to visit Franklin in 2019, but COVID got in the way. The extremely talented artists at Franklin also decided to commission PG13 Franklin x O'Fallon art, which is the most band kid thing in the world and I'm not posting it here. Our assitant director has a cat named Greg Bimm. Extremely proud with how 2021 went coming off of not having a program in 2020, as the honors band which I was a part of basically had a perfect spring concert season, winning all-state over our rivals Chicago rivals in Lockport and securing an appearance in the 2022 Midwest Clinic. I see the band program to eventually have the same potential as bands like Blue Springs/Coppell/William Mason should things continue in their current direction for another 3 to 4 years, especially as O'Fallon as a community continues to grow. Love O'Fallon Township and was so pleased to see them in GN Finals in 2018. I imagine O'Fallon has done more competitions with the St Louis MO area bands. Of all the past Illinois Grand National Finalist bands going back to the 70s, O'Fallon is the farthest south in the state to make GN Finals. I am glad to hear this band looks to have a bright future down the road. A cat named Greg Bimm is certainly clever.
|
|
|
Post by paddy on Jun 1, 2022 9:22:49 GMT -6
@shroom, are you living in Carmel and commuting to Butler? I know it isn't far, but why not live on campus for undergrad?
|
|
|
Post by Shroom on Jun 1, 2022 10:58:16 GMT -6
@shroom, are you living in Carmel and commuting to Butler? I know it isn't far, but why not live on campus for undergrad? I'm living on Campus lol. I was under the impression that BU was in Carmel rather than Indy proper. Not too familiar with the area so I might have been misinformed haha
|
|
|
Post by thewho on Jun 1, 2022 13:11:24 GMT -6
@shroom, are you living in Carmel and commuting to Butler? I know it isn't far, but why not live on campus for undergrad? I'm living on Campus lol. I was under the impression that BU was in Carmel rather than Indy proper. Not too familiar with the area so I might have been misinformed haha The apt comparison would be saying the IL O'Fallon is in St. Louis. Welcome to Indy, though! You'll love the band competitions around the city.
|
|
|
Post by paddy on Jun 1, 2022 20:40:47 GMT -6
@shroom, are you living in Carmel and commuting to Butler? I know it isn't far, but why not live on campus for undergrad? I'm living on Campus lol. I was under the impression that BU was in Carmel rather than Indy proper. Not too familiar with the area so I might have been misinformed haha No worries. I was just a bit confused/surprised. Butler is a great campus.
|
|
|
Post by euphislife on Jul 29, 2022 16:14:28 GMT -6
1. Indiana
2. I'm currently a senior in Evansville North's Green Brigade, and when this upcoming season is over, I'll have marched from '17-'22.
3. I plan on auditioning for a few corps on euphonium for the '23 season, specifically Phantom/Bluecoats.
4. Evansville North both as a school and band program have been around since 1956, but we weren't anything notable until 2011. In 2011, Dwight Emmert, a current co-director of Phantom Regiment, became the director of fine arts at EVSC, which Ev North is apart of, alongside other notable Class B Indiana Bands such as FJ Reitz and Ev. Harrison. Most EVSC schools started to have more emphasis on music again, and in 2014, Dwight's brother, Jay Emmert (the other current co-director of PR), became Ev North's director. He set the program on track to it's first ever ISSMA State Finals run in 2016, where they finished 8th in Class B.
My first year, I remember everyone expecting that run to have been a fluke and the group, largely returning members from the previous season, stressing about not letting that happen. We went on to make 4 more state finals runs since (7th in '17, 8th in '18, 6th in '19, and 2nd in '21)
Jay moved on from the program as a result of the pandemic in 2020, but under our new director, we've only gotten more competitive. Until last season, we hadn't appeared at any BOA event since 1997. We made our 21st century debut at the Indy Super last year and got 17th overall and 4th in Class AAA. Quite a splash locally, just 3 spots under making finals at Indy Super. Also, at ISSMA State Finals, we were the 2021 Class B runner ups! Recaps here show the gap wasn't far either, and this group is hungry for more in '22.
Even if it's my last year here, this program has been a huge part of my life and these younger members have a bright future here in Southern Indiana.
|
|
|
Post by 78haworth on Aug 3, 2022 11:02:03 GMT -6
I attended Haworth High School from Kokomo Indiana from the summer of 1974 to the summer of 1978. We mostly marched parades and the track show circuits in '74 and '75. Then we moved on to the "new" NISBOVA and State Field Marching championships in the fall. We did win 2 Indiana State Championships , 1974 and 1975. They were 2nd in 1978 to Chesterton. This was the first of several championships for Chesterton. 1978 started out with the blizzard of '78 and the band was scheduled to travel to St. Petersburg, FL for the Festival of States in April. Due to the blizzard, the band traveled to Grissom AFB to begin learning the show in 2 separate hangers. Of course back then both sides were a mirror image of each other. I'm not sure when we began rehearsals, but it had to be February or March. We still had large mounds of snow on the practice field (also known as the parking lot) by the time we were ready to leave for Florida. The first time the band was put together on a field was in Florida. Directors did not know what to expect! Fun times. LOL This is the same show that we marched during the summer marching tour circuit and at MBA Summer Nationals as well as the State Championships. Minor changes were made throughout the year musically and drill. Many of the seniors (including myself) marched during the summer tour and then the band was different with the seniors gone and the new incoming freshmen for the fall. Falls Church, VA won the Festival of States field marching championship. Haworth finished a disappointing 5th. We later found out that this was a festival being judged by professional and none professionals. I do have a video of this performance but of course I don't know how to post. It is in digital form if anyone wants to post it. Reading through these history posts above is a walk down memory lane. Dundee Scots, Bridgeport, Chesaning, Ben Davis, Northrup, Chesterton to name a few were all bands I had the pleasure of competing with during the summer months. It's only been a few years ago that I found a video of Live Oak at grand nationals, in a post from a reunion video that covered them from their beginnings to the '90's I believe. What a thrill that was! They were so good. Haworth did close and then Kokomo moved into the Haworth building. The band did have some success but was never able to bring the glory days back. We actually had an all year band reunion in 2018 and what a blast that was. Several of our former directors attended as well. What a great group of people to be associated with.
|
|
|
Post by Shroom on Aug 4, 2022 8:43:38 GMT -6
Not really sure where to put this, but I think it somewhat fits here.
I mentioned earlier in this thread that I am from O'Fallon/St. Louis area, and that I'm moving to Indy soon for University. It's always been odd to me that in Indiana that "Hoosier" is a positive term or at least a nickname, since here it's a pretty insulting and harsh slur that more or less just means uneducated redneck or "white trash". I always see people refer to themselves on this forum as Hoosiers so I think that crowd will find this interesting.
Anyway, I've always been into local history and the history of Southern Illinois in general and eventually I found the reason for the difference in meaning and I think it's pretty fascinating.
Basically St. Louis and its MetroEast area have always had a very strong labor movement, especially so in the early 20th century. Sometime in the 20s-30s Anheuser-Busch (and other businesses with large presences in St. Louis) had a massive union labor strike which led to those businesses bringing in a bunch of rural Indianans to act as scabs and break up the strikes, and also to replace the jobs of the workers who left. Obviously thousands of non-native people being brought to your city with the expressed purpose of harming your cause is going to create a lot of bad blood, especially in 1930s Midwestern America, and that's exactly what it did. Eventually most of the workers returned to their post at the businesses once the strikes ended and the "hoosiers" went to go live in the rural areas around St. Louis and the MetroEast, where their descendants still make up a large population of the rural white poor in this area. So, really interesting story imo about a word which, has a lot off nuance in my area.
Just to be transparent btw, a lot of my sources are pretty iffy and some of them contradict each other when it comes to specifics, but this is the general story outline and I think the vague narrative I've placed out is mostly correct from what I've been able to piece together.
|
|
|
Post by paddy on Aug 4, 2022 8:58:09 GMT -6
Not really sure where to put this, but I think it somewhat fits here. I mentioned earlier in this thread that I am from O'Fallon/St. Louis area, and that I'm moving to Indy soon for University. It's always been odd to me that in Indiana that "Hoosier" is a positive term or at least a nickname, since here it's a pretty insulting and harsh slur that more or less just means uneducated redneck or "white trash". I always see people refer to themselves on this forum as Hoosiers so I think that crowd will find this interesting. Anyway, I've always been into local history and the history of Southern Illinois in general and eventually I found the reason for the difference in meaning and I think it's pretty fascinating. Basically St. Louis and its MetroEast area have always had a very strong labor movement, especially so in the early 20th century. Sometime in the 20s-30s Anheuser-Busch (and other businesses with large presences in St. Louis) had a massive union labor strike which led to those businesses bringing in a bunch of rural Indianans to act as scabs and break up the strikes, and also to replace the jobs of the workers who left. Obviously thousands of non-native people being brought to your city with the expressed purpose of harming your cause is going to create a lot of bad blood, especially in 1930s Midwestern America, and that's exactly what it did. Eventually most of the workers returned to their post at the businesses once the strikes ended and the "hoosiers" went to go live in the rural areas around St. Louis and the MetroEast, where their descendants still make up a large population of the rural white poor in this area. So, really interesting story imo about a word which, has a lot off nuance in my area. Just to be transparent btw, a lot of my sources are pretty iffy and some of them contradict each other when it comes to specifics, but this is the general story outline and I think the vague narrative I've placed out is mostly correct from what I've been able to piece together. While I joined the Hoosier Homer group, as a Purdue grad, Hoosier is a pejorative as we Purdue grads associate it with Indiana University which is the college for rednecks and white trash (said in a very joking college rivalry sense). As I always say, Hoosier by birth, Boilermaker by the grace of God.
|
|
|
Post by hewhowaits on Aug 4, 2022 10:42:07 GMT -6
as a Purdue grad, Hoosier is a pejorative as we Purdue grads associate it with Indiana University which is the college for rednecks and white trash (said in a very joking college rivalry sense). Big words coming from a graduate of Pur-don't.
|
|
|
Post by paddy on Aug 4, 2022 12:20:12 GMT -6
as a Purdue grad, Hoosier is a pejorative as we Purdue grads associate it with Indiana University which is the college for rednecks and white trash (said in a very joking college rivalry sense). Big words coming from a graduate of Pur-don't. Congratulations on using the most uncreative "insult" out there.
|
|
|
Post by hewhowaits on Aug 4, 2022 13:20:44 GMT -6
Big words coming from a graduate of Pur-don't. Congratulations on using the most uncreative "insult" out there. No creativity intended.
|
|
|
Post by rabb2t on Aug 16, 2022 10:15:56 GMT -6
Don't think I participated in this yet. 1. Born and raised in Indiana, still have yet to leave. 2. I was in Fishers HS from 2017-2020. 3. No DCI. Too much hassle and I was devoted to academics with band as a hobby. 4. Fishers opened in 2006 and band-wise didn't pick up steam until 2016. We first got into ISSMA finals with our 2016 production and have been consistently in finals since. We started doing Grand Nationals the year after and have been a semi-finalist since our first year (crossing my fingers that Fishers makes finals at least before I stop knowing people in the band). I had a feature in 2019 but just in case one of my past directors is reading I won't go into details which instrument I was . The future for Fishers is very bright, not to mention to great staff that we have gotten over the years alongside our music writer. I know that everyone's eagerly waiting for the day that the top 3 of Indiana gets shaken up a little and I believe that the time is not too far off. Be on the lookout for Fishers this year. For this early in the season the brass can already blow off the roof!
|
|
|
Post by boahistorybuff on Aug 17, 2022 6:15:41 GMT -6
Don't think I participated in this yet. 1. Born and raised in Indiana, still have yet to leave. 2. I was in Fishers HS from 2017-2020. 3. No DCI. Too much hassle and I was devoted to academics with band as a hobby. 4. Fishers opened in 2006 and band-wise didn't pick up steam until 2016. We first got into ISSMA finals with our 2016 production and have been consistently in finals since. We started doing Grand Nationals the year after and have been a semi-finalist since our first year (crossing my fingers that Fishers makes finals at least before I stop knowing people in the band). I had a feature in 2019 but just in case one of my past directors is reading I won't go into details which instrument I was . The future for Fishers is very bright, not to mention to great staff that we have gotten over the years alongside our music writer. I know that everyone's eagerly waiting for the day that the top 3 of Indiana gets shaken up a little and I believe that the time is not too far off. Be on the lookout for Fishers this year. For this early in the season the brass can already blow off the roof! Yes I have had my eye on Fishers for a few years now. I would not be surprised to see Fishers in GN Finals very soon and perhaps someday be a contender for Grand National Champion.
|
|
|
Post by crpitdad on Oct 4, 2022 19:44:41 GMT -6
Cedar Ridge High School Round Rock TX
We are one of the smallest AAAA bands ... About 160 kids on the field including color guard which sounds big to me but compared to Vandegrift and CTJ it's a very small band.
We have 18 volunteers on the pit crew and we spent over 100 hours making our props, and personally I think it's a great show but it's really hard on us pit parents
9 scaffolds with wheels that the Gargoyles are mounted to (and they are constantly breaking), 8 ladders that hold up moons (also constantly breaking), 3 towers we bought from CTJ, and a number of tarps.
The directors of this band love each other and the kids love them, they work great together and the kids work incredibly hard to get better all the time.
I moved here from California because my daughter wants to be a band director, I had NO idea this stuff was as big or as serious as it is.
-S
|
|
|
Post by boahistorybuff on Oct 5, 2022 6:53:18 GMT -6
Cedar Ridge High School Round Rock TX
We are one of the smallest AAAA bands ... About 160 kids on the field including color guard which sounds big to me but compared to Vandegrift and CTJ it's a very small band.
We have 18 volunteers on the pit crew and we spent over 100 hours making our props, and personally I think it's a great show but it's really hard on us pit parents
9 scaffolds with wheels that the Gargoyles are mounted to (and they are constantly breaking), 8 ladders that hold up moons (also constantly breaking), 3 towers we bought from CTJ, and a number of tarps.
The directors of this band love each other and the kids love them, they work great together and the kids work incredibly hard to get better all the time.
I moved here from California because my daughter wants to be a band director, I had NO idea this stuff was as big or as serious as it is.
-S
We all have a lot of respect for the parent volunteers who donate so much of their time to managing all of the props. Yes, marching band is a very big deal in Texas and it is a great state to get a comprehensive music education. Back in my day a 160-member band was a pretty big band. I guess not so much these days, especially in Texas. Like most on these forums, I really got hooked on Cedar Ridge during their breakout season in 2013. Love what I have been seeing from this band in more recent years.
|
|