Marching on to Greater Heights
The Madison band performs their 2016 show, Journey Across the Stars, featuring music from Star Wars, ET, and Star Trek, at the Mt. Timpanogos Competition.
by: Isaac Williams and Lynn Hall
The MHS Marching Band provides exciting music, school pride at football games and school assemblies, but they also have a competitive season of their own. Students learn valuable skills on and off the field.
Director Dan North says that there are different aspects in marching band.
“There’s the musical aspect, where we’ve got a very unique american artform… it has a certain tone quality and sound quality.” North says. “Then there’s the social aspect. Marching bands are a culture of their own. We have four grades tied into it here at the high school.”
Mr. North also mentions the importance of combined goals.
“In order to meet that combined goal, we all have individual goals; you have to do your part.” North said.
Since Mr. North arrived in 1987, the band has grown from 24 winds and percussion players and 12 color guard members to over 100 total student performers as of this year!
The students in the program learn valuable skills and some even continue on in other programs.
Lead Snare, Senior Randy Masulonis tells us about Troopercussion, an indoor marching percussion and sideline ensemble that competes in the winter.
“One of the things they teach is HLD, Honor, Loyalty, Dedication” says Masulonis.
There are other opportunities for these musicians to take part in, both on and off the field. Some of these include:
- Drum and Bugle Corp International (DCI)
- Winter Guard International (WGI)
- Collegiate Marching Bands
- Music Honor Groups
- State Solo Competition
The band recently returned from their biggest competition of the year in Pleasant Grove, Utah, where 45 bands from Utah and surrounding states consisting of 4,000 total students performed their shows this season.
This Saturday, the band will take on Highland and Century for their last competition of the season in Minico.
Senior Camille Garner, head Drum Major, shares her thoughts on how the band has done this this season.
“We’ve really come together as a group, and we’ve made a lot of good things happen.”
Overall, the Madison Marching Band is an excellent program that provides students with a unique opportunity to learn many skills, both in music and in life.
VIDEO: https://youtu.be/0gkLqwZPiII?t=1m10s
