Tension builds as the time arrives for the marching band to step onto the field for the last time. The bittersweet time has come for their last performance and they give their all to a show they have dedicated hours of their lives to, rehearsing music and drilling precise movements for. It is the Indiana Marching Band State Finals, and this year, they finish second.

“I feel like we got so much out of that performance because we put so much into it, and I think every performance had led up to that,” said senior drum major Isabelle Haley.

Besides physical awards given, there lies a sense of satisfaction. After this season, many members showed a large display of satisfaction both with performance and effort.

“I think a lot of my performances were really good because after I got off, I couldn’t remember anything I messed up on, and I think I’m going to take that into next year. I’ll remember that at the beginning of the year I was making mistakes, and by the end I was having perfect shows,” said freshman baritone player Eleanor Marshall.

Reflecting on the beginning of the year, students look back at old hopes for the upcoming season. Many freshmen specifically aim to imitate their more experienced counterparts.

“I was hoping that I could just get everything down and I could really, like, get everything right, and look like an upperclassman, even though I’m a freshman,” said Marshall.

After all is said and done, most students are content with all they have accomplished in this year’s marching band season. The season was significant not only for its accolades but also for connections made among students.

“Getting to meet people from other bands has always been really nice, and every single time we leave a competition the band seems very happy with what we have done and the awards we have received,” said Haley.

Competition days require long hours of focus and hard work. In those long hours, though, there is plenty of room for memories to be made.

“At competitions we got to have fun for the first part, and then we would all get really focused when we were about to go on and actually perform. Then, right after we get off, it’s more like having fun again. It’s just like really walking in during whenever we have to show our performance,” said Marshall.

The competitions themselves are all day events. Each year, these students dedicate full days to compete with top bands throughout the state.

“Competitions are really long days, really early mornings, and the last two competitions I had to do in a boot. I got to sit on the back of the field and watch the whole performance,” said junior tuba player Norman Pickett.

Along with specific challenges for certain students, there was also a big change to this year’s marching band season. This year, the marching band dropped competition classes due to FC’s student population.

“At the beginning of the season, I didn’t really know what to expect since we dropped down to a different class. I was just hoping that we were able to do as well as we were doing in Class A in Class B,” said Haley.

Still, even with a change in classes, the marching band managed to take second place in the state finals competition. Going forward, class dynamics are essential going into concert band season.

“Marching band is like the beginning of the year, so I guess it helps us bond together as a band,” said Pickett

Furthermore, a successful marching band season creates a better scope of competition among Indiana bands.

“We’ve kind of made a name for ourselves, and it kind of sets us up for a more competitive [concert band] season because people know who we are and also we are kind of coming off the high of marching band,” said Haley.

All in all, the success from this year’s marching band will bleed through to the concert band season in both group dynamics as well as skill. Here is to hoping for a successful season.