164 students stand at attention across the football field carrying instruments ranging from trumpets to bass clarinets. A striking chord pierces the air as the marching band begins performing their show, titled “Hurt.”

Matthew Rom, the band instructor here at EHS says “What we’re trying to do, is take the audience through the idea that all of us at some time in our lives are going to be hurt by somebody, or something at a deep level. Depending on who we are that hurt will come from a different thing, and we tried really hard with our show not to specify…It’s more powerful for an audience if they are able to relate to our show since each of us will relate to it in a different way.”

According to Rom, the band practices anywhere from 10-12 hours a week during marching season, learning new positions, songs, prop movements, as well as making dynamic changes to the music. According to Abby Limley, a senior at EHS, and the flute section leader, the band practiced a total of 221 hours last marching season.

“It is a huge time commitment,” says Maddie Dragoo, the EHS Color Guard Captain. The Color Guard members take band class and play instruments, however during the marching band show they provide visuals. Each member twirls flags, learns choreography, and have multiple costume changes during the show.  “But I think the time commitment is honestly worth it in the end,” Draggo says, “You get so much done in that amount of time. By the end of the season, you’ve spent over 200 hours on a show that now looks amazing.”

“The show this year… it’s probably the darkest show I’ve tried to do for the marching band at EHS.” Rom says “Our show kind of takes us through that procession of coming from a place maybe childlike or naive, where the possibility of that bad thing occurring seems impossible. When that live-changing thing happens..you kind of feel stuck.”

“That pain,” Dragoo says, “is what causes us to be broken for a time period. We recover, but we become bruised which is what our third movement is about.”

The band competed in 5 different competitions this year, at places such as Millard South, and Lincoln Southeast. The newest addition to the band program this year is the Spirit Show. Since band is a very large time commitment, the school felt it was time to bring forth an option for students who enjoy playing but cannot fully commit to marching band. Students in the Spirit band perform the pre-show as well as attend band class, but do not march on the field during halftime or attend marching band competitions.

According to Rom, the Spirit Show idea has been tossed around for a while, “This just happened to be the year it worked out.”

Of course, like any activity, those in the band can feel overlooked at times, but Rom thinks the group is luckier than most to be in a school that values not only athletic achievements but musical achievements as well.

“We are grateful our school is so passionate about everything its students are involved in.” said Rom, “the band receives support from the school and administration and we are really lucky in that way.” Many students in band are also involved in sports, the choir department, as well as have accomplished academic achievements at EHS.

“There is definitely a good sense of cooperation amongst the Guard and the band.” says Dragoo, “I think everyone understands their roles, and we all respect each other a lot.”

The band’s final competition was this past Saturday, October 20th. Overall, the band placed eighth.  “With how we’ve been doing throughout the season, I was expecting us to place worse,” says Lindsey Mulder, a sophomore flute. “I remember looking at my friends with shock when they didn’t call our school for tenth or ninth place.”

“When you join the band, you bond with everyone so well. There are crazy high expectations placed on us.” said Dragoo, “But I know as long as we work hard and work together, we’ll give it our all every time we perform.”

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