By Ereka Bailey
On Saturday, October 10th, 2015, the New Haven Marching Shamrocks traveled to Columbia, Missouri to march in the Mizzou Homecoming Parade. Early Saturday morning, the Marching Shamrocks arrived at school at 5:45 am to hop on the bus to start the journey to Columbia.
When the Shamrocks arrived at the parade, it was around 7:00 am. It wasn’t as cold as previous years, but it still was pretty chilly. The band unloaded the instrument trailer, got dressed in full uniform, and started preparing themselves for what was arguably the most exciting parade of the season.
On Saturday, October 10th, 2015, the New Haven Marching Shamrocks traveled to Columbia, Missouri to march in the Mizzou Homecoming Parade. Early Saturday morning, the Marching Shamrocks arrived at school at 5:45 am to hop on the bus to start the journey to Columbia.
When the Shamrocks arrived at the parade, it was around 7:00 am. It wasn’t as cold as previous years, but it still was pretty chilly. The band unloaded the instrument trailer, got dressed in full uniform, and started preparing themselves for what was arguably the most exciting parade of the season.
The Shamrocks arrived to their warm up location, and sat around for a while since they had about an hour and a half before they stepped off. About thirty minutes before they had to begin marching, Mrs. Koch asked Keven, the band’s drum major, to blow his whistle to let the band know that it was time to get into formation and warm up. The Marching Shamrocks warmed up with the “Ultimate Warm Up” and the B flat scale. Then, they ran through “Seven Nation Army.”
As soon as they were finished warming up their instruments, their Mizzou representative told them that it was time for them to move up in line with the other bands to get ready to step off. Within five minutes, they were off. As soon as the band started marching, the whole crowd was ecstatic to see the Marching Shamrocks in the parade. Little girls cheered for the Shamrockettes and flags, everyone danced to the beat of the drumline’s cadence, and the band members didn’t even try to hold back their smiles.
The band marched down the first long, straight street. As soon as they put their instruments up, the crowd cheered, anticipating what would come next. After four whistles from Keven, the band began playing their song, “I Get Around.”
When they finished playing, the crowd whooped and hollered! “I like when random people cheer for us even though they don’t know who we are”, says Shamrockette co-captain Erin Scheer.
A bit further down the street, it was time for the band to make a left turn. At first, the onlookers were confused as to what the Shamrocks were doing when they pulled their whole band all the way forward instead of swinging around the corner, but as soon as they got the call from Keven, the band started their famous Texas Turn. The crowd lost it with excitement.
Next, the Shamrocks marched down the street where the band judge was located for the event. The judges must have loved the band because the band ended up winning 1st place in their class. They also received the second highest score within all of the captions when compared with every band in attendance.
Senior Kathy Jasper said, “I really liked [the parade] but the fact that it was our last time at Mizzou made me cry. And seeing all of the people that were there and how much they love us always makes me proud.”
For some of the band, this is the first time marching in this parade, and for others, it was the last time they will ever get to enjoy this experience. Either way, marching at Mizzou has been and will always be loved by the New Haven Shamrock Band.
As soon as they were finished warming up their instruments, their Mizzou representative told them that it was time for them to move up in line with the other bands to get ready to step off. Within five minutes, they were off. As soon as the band started marching, the whole crowd was ecstatic to see the Marching Shamrocks in the parade. Little girls cheered for the Shamrockettes and flags, everyone danced to the beat of the drumline’s cadence, and the band members didn’t even try to hold back their smiles.
The band marched down the first long, straight street. As soon as they put their instruments up, the crowd cheered, anticipating what would come next. After four whistles from Keven, the band began playing their song, “I Get Around.”
When they finished playing, the crowd whooped and hollered! “I like when random people cheer for us even though they don’t know who we are”, says Shamrockette co-captain Erin Scheer.
A bit further down the street, it was time for the band to make a left turn. At first, the onlookers were confused as to what the Shamrocks were doing when they pulled their whole band all the way forward instead of swinging around the corner, but as soon as they got the call from Keven, the band started their famous Texas Turn. The crowd lost it with excitement.
Next, the Shamrocks marched down the street where the band judge was located for the event. The judges must have loved the band because the band ended up winning 1st place in their class. They also received the second highest score within all of the captions when compared with every band in attendance.
Senior Kathy Jasper said, “I really liked [the parade] but the fact that it was our last time at Mizzou made me cry. And seeing all of the people that were there and how much they love us always makes me proud.”
For some of the band, this is the first time marching in this parade, and for others, it was the last time they will ever get to enjoy this experience. Either way, marching at Mizzou has been and will always be loved by the New Haven Shamrock Band.
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