Marching band is a combination of music and movement, and members of the Sound of North will mimic robots when they step onto the performance field this year.
This year’s show, “Power Up,” will feature 160 members of the Columbus North marching band and the color guard. Its robotic movements will be fast, aggressive and angular, said Keith Burton, marching band director at North, who is starting his 17th year with the program.
“There’s a lot of mechanical looking moves,” said Burton, who has written the music for the show, including the first portion, “The Perfect Machine.”
Spectators can expect music by percussionists that will build up until they are joined by the full band, Burton said.
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This year’s group of marching band students includes about 60 seniors, one of the largest 12th grade classes in recent years, Burton said.
Senior, Olivia Thomas and Lily Johnson and junior Claire Alderfer are leading the Sound of North as its drum majors this season.
Alderfer, who has been with the band since her freshman year, said she views her role as an important one and said she hopes to be a person that individuals can come to while leading them in the right direction.
“I want to help them reach their full potential and do the best they can,” Alderfer said. “We kind of bridge the gap between the director and the rest of the band. I want to get them as far as they can.”
Johnson also said this year’s band already stands out to her.
“It’s one of the best bands I’ve seen because of the enthusiasm,” she said.
North students spend two full weeks in band camp before the start of school to prepare for this year’s show.
That began with practice from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. July 23-27. This week’s practices have been longer, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, with an earlier 4 p.m. conclusion today.
The focus has been refining students’ marching skills and teaching them the opener of this year’s show, said Bill Stultz, who is starting his 31st and final year as North’s director of bands.
Marching band members are also working on the movements tied to this year’s show, Stultz said.
Wednesday’s schedule this week called for sections of the band to practice inside the school on their own, allowing them to refine their music, he said. Later in the day, they got a chance to practice outside on the football field.
Members of the color guard are spending their practice time getting used to equipment and visuals incorporated into the show.
The robotic theme calls for depictions of charging units to be worn on the chests of color guard members during performances, Stultz said.
Stultz, who will retire at the end of the school year, said his focus for the band isn’t about an overall placement or winning awards in competitions.
“We just want them to do the best they can do,” Stultz said.
Christian East, a senior who plays the baritone, said he feels comfortable with this year’s program. It’s a contrast to last year’s show, “Within These Walls,” which had a dark theme to it, he said.
Stultz said the group is off to a good start, with plenty of experience due to the large number of seniors. He will be accompanying the Sound of North on a week-long trip over spring break to Italy, where students will visit Rome, Florence and Venice.
Stultz intends to make the most of his final year leading the band program.
“It never really felt like a job,” he said. “This was always a passion.”
The Sound of North, which previewed the show to band parents and other family members on Thursday, plans to perform during the season-opening 7 p.m. Aug. 17 varsity football game against Franklin Community High School at Columbus North, 1400 25th St.
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Sept. 8: Sound of North invitational, Columbus North High School
Sept. 22: Marching band competition, Floyd Central High School, Floyds Knobs
Sept. 29: Marching band competition, Ben Davis High School, Indianapolis
Oct. 13: Indiana State School Music Association (ISSMA) regional competition, Center Grove High School, Greenwood
Oct. 19-20: Bands of America Super Regional, Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis
Oct. 27: ISSMA semi-state contest, Ben Davis High School
Nov. 3: ISSMA state finals marching contest, Lucas Oil Stadium
Nov. 8-10: Bands of America Grand Nationals, Lucas Oil Stadium
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