Bands ready for big finales: Musicians have full schedule of contests ahead

High school marching bands at Columbus East and Columbus North are ready to deliver performances they believe will catch the attention of spectators and judges as they wind up the competition year.

The Columbus East Olympian Spirit marching band is blending music with the movies that will take audience members from night into day, said David Rodgers, band director at East. The 74-member band is mostly made up of underclassmen this year.

Its next competition is during the Indiana State School Music Association Scholastic Preliminaries Saturday at Whiteland High School, where the band will perform at 2:15 p.m.

“We have a lot of contemporary music,” said Tiffany Collins, a senior drum major.

Songs such “A Sky Full of Stars” by Coldplay and “Another Day of Sun” from the film “La La Land” should be familiar to spectators, said Collins, who described the performance as “light-hearted and happy.”

Rodgers said the show begins with elements such as the moons and stars and incorporates the sun as well, using colors such as blue and yellow. The show, which includes Van Morrison’s “Moondance,” should appeal to people of different ages, he said.

“We took classic music like ‘Twinkle Twinkle Little Star’ and mixed it with contemporary (music),” Rodgers said.

Claire Kilbarger-Stumpff, a junior at East who plays the baritone, also said it helps that she recognizes the music.

“I really like the aspect I know the songs,” she said.

Earlier in the season, the East marching band finished eighth among 15 bands that competed Sept. 9 during a band invitational at Columbus North High School. It placed third during a band invitational at Lawrence Central High School Sept. 16 and finished second during an invitational at Greenwood High School Sept. 23.

The band also captured fifth place during a competition in Zionsville the following week, Rodgers said.

The Columbus North marching band’s performance is dubbed “Within These Walls.” The show by the 160-member band primarily focuses on fears and facing them, said Alex Farrar, a junior with the Sound of North.

“The setting of the show is in a hotel, and it’s kind of haunted,” Farrar said.

Delaney Ruble, another junior, said audience members can expect something a little different compared to other performances the Sound of North has put on.

“This show’s a little more creepier,” Ruble said.

Spectators can expect to see different elements of the show that focus on the clouds and water.

“All of our visuals and the music is supposed to represent serenity,” Farrar said.

He also said some of the music written by Sound of North marching band director Keith Burton has taken a different approach this year in its sound.

“It’s really refreshing and I really enjoy it,” he said.

The Sound of North has shown off its performance at different competitions so far this season. It captured first place Sept. 23 during an invitational event at Floyd Central High School, where it was honored for best music, best color guard and best percussionists, said Bill Stultz, director of bands at North.

North was second during an invitational in Zionsville the following week, Stultz said.

Its next competition is Oct. 14 at the Indiana State School Music Association Regional marching competition at Center Grove High School, where it will perform at 6:35 p.m.

The Indiana State School Music Association plans to conduct its state marching band finals Nov. 4 at Lucas Oil Stadium, where four state champion bands will be named. North made the Class A state band finals last season, placing ninth.

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Oct. 14: Indiana State School Music Association Regional marching competition at Center Grove High School. It will perform at 6:35 p.m.

Oct. 20 and 21: Bands of America Indianapolis Super Regional at Lucas Oil StadiumĀ in Indianapolis.

Oct. 28: Indiana State School Music Association Semistate competition at Ben Davis High School in Indianapolis.

Nov. 4: Indiana State School Music Association State Finals at Lucas Oil Stadium.

Nov. 9 to 11: Bands of America Grand National Championship at Lucas Oil Stadium.

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Saturday: Indiana State School Music Association Scholastic Preliminaries at Whiteland High School, where it will perform at 2:15 p.m.

Oct. 21: Indiana State School Music Association Scholastic Class Finals (if the band qualifies, it will play at Lawrence Central High School)

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