Arcola High School’s Marching Band concludes successful competition season
PROTECTED CONTENT
If you’re a current subscriber, log in below. If you would like to subscribe, please click the subscribe tab above.
Username and Password Help
Please enter your email and we will send you a password reset link.
The Arcola High School Marching Band concluded its competitive season on Saturday, Oct. 26. Their field show this season was entitled “Dreamscapes” and featured the following music: Enchanted – Taylor Swift, Yellow – Coldplay, and Sky Full of Stars – Coldplay. This season looks to be their most successful to date in many years, taking home 1st place in two competitions.
The journey had begun long before competitions kicked off. Throughout the summer, the band participated in an intensive percussion camp June 17–21 where the percussion students learned the fundamentals needed to perform this year’s show. The students also learned the drumline cadences played in this year’s parades.
On July 24–26 and July 29–30, they hosted a mini-camp where all of the students learned marching fundamentals and the music for this year’s competitive show. Following the mini-camps, the band met for a full comprehensive band-camp Aug. 5–9, where students were able to hone their skills and learn the competitive production.
The students also learned how to work together as a team so they could be successful both on and off the field. Once the school year began, rehearsals were on Monday and Wednesday evenings. This is where students dedicated themselves to perfecting their drill moves and music.
Their commitment was evident, as they tackled both challenging pieces of music along with challenging drill moves. The tireless hours of the staff, directors, and students created an atmosphere of enthusiasm and motivation.
The competitive season officially began with a strong performance on Sept. 21 in Robinson. They were put into a tough class, but the students never gave up and put up a fight. At the end of the evening, they heard their name announced for both the coveted People’s Choice Award and third place in Class 1A. The positive and constructive feedback from both the instructors and judges bolstered their confidence and set the bar high for the rest of the season to come.
The following Saturday, on Sept. 28, the band performed in the Mt. Zion Marching Music Games, where again they were put into a very tough competition with five other bands. The Band took the field with renewed energy and focus. Following the performance, it was a long wait until the awards ceremony. They heard their name called for first place in Class 1A, Best Percussion Performance in Class 1A and Best Drum Major in Class 1A. This showed the students how hard work and dedication in rehearsals can pay off following Robinson’s competition.
Moving forward, in their third competition of the season at Eastern Illinois University, the spotlight shined bright on the Color Guard, which won the first place award for Best Auxiliary in Class 1A.
As the season reached its peak, on Oct. 26, the band delivered a stunning performance in their final competition in Oblong. The band clinched first place in Class 1A, along with accolades for Best Percussion, Best Music, and Best Auxiliary.
The culmination of their hard work and dedication was celebrated at the annual Fall Follies Parade, the largest nighttime parade in Illinois. The band placed third among seven other marching bands in the combined class, and also earned the title of Best Color Guard.
“This has truly been our most successful season in a long time” said the Band Director Kevin Boyle. “The dedication shown during percussion camp, band camp, and after school rehearsals has paid off. Our students have poured their hearts into their performance, and the results reflect that. I hope that my students forever cherish the memories made during this unforgettable season.”
The band is under the leadership of Kevin Boyle (band director) and receives assistance from Jill Raymond (color guard), Christopher Keniley (percussion director and show designer), and Hunter Dorman (visual/music instructor). As the band looks ahead to the future, the band is filled with excitement, and ready to inspire the community through music and performance for many years to come, the director said.