This year’s marching band season has started off! The marching band is playing “You Keep Me Hanging On” by the Supremes this year. The band had camp in sectionals from August 6th to August 10th at the high school, which is when different sections of the band come in at different times to practice. The whole band came together to practice Monday and Tuesday morning before school started on August 15th. The marching band practices every morning before school: they march down to the park to play “You Keep Me Hanging On” and march back up to the high school.
The Marching Shamrocks’ preview parade is on September 14th at 5 P.M., where they march around town dressed in full uniform. The marching band marches the preview parade so they are well prepared for the Balloon Festival the following weekend. The Balloon Festival Parade is in New Haven on September 22nd at 2 P.M. In past years, the band has competed in Sullivan early the same morning and always rushed back to make it in time for the Balloon Festival Parade. This year the Sullivan competition is on September 29th at 10 A.M., a week after the Balloon Parade.
The next weekend after Sullivan, the Marching Shamrocks will compete at the Washington Marching Festival on the 6th of October at 8:30 A.M. On October 13th, the marching band will go to Potosi at 9 A.M. to compete. Their last parade is the Mizzou Homecoming Parade in Columbia on October 20th.
Many members of the marching band are excited for this season; Miranda Durbin, an auxiliary flag member, states, “As a senior, everything starts coming to an end. For marching band, I definitely don't want it to end. Marching band is one of my passions, and I will miss every single second [of it].”
One member of the trumpet section, Hannah Rethemeyer, says, “We play the same thing over and over again, but this makes it easier to memorize!”
Another member of the band says, “I am excited to beat Vienna this year!” The New Haven Band has always had a rivalry with Vienna. In past years, Vienna has beaten New Haven by half a point! Vienna seems to beat the Shamrocks by a few points in Sullivan most years. The marching band enjoys the competition!
Mrs. Koch, the band director, is pushing students to do their best this season. According to her, she is proud of the band’s progress and she is excited to see how this marching season goes!
Good luck, Marching Shamrocks!