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Norwell’s Marching Knights will be marching into the RCA Dome next Saturday at they defend their Class C State Marching Band title.
Norwell came away from Saturday’s Indiana State School Music Association (ISSMA) Northern Regional competitions in Chesterton with a gold rating, giving them a spot among the 10 bands which will compete in the Class C state finals next weekend.
Even with this being Norwell’s ninth trip to the state finals in a row, band director Doug Hassell reminded the students that every year is different and nothing can be taken for granted. “It’s a different year for us and it’s a different year for everyone else too,” Hassell said.
“We were very pleased,” Hassell said of Saturday’s performance. “We’re excited to be going back to state.”
As for expectations Hassell tries tried to keep things in focus. “Our expectation is to do the best show we can, and let the chips fall where they may.”
Hassell said he told the band members that while the band’s past achievements were “very cool,” everything starts with a clean slate for next weekend’s state finals. “We just want to focus on what we can do, and not on what anyone else is doing.”
Hassell also pointed out to the band that while there were several other bands that were very good and earned gold ratings, only five bands can go from each group. “Just making state is an honor, I told them to enjoy making state,” Hassell said.
Norwell’s 2007 performance is titled, “Simply Surreal,” and features the musical selections, “The Moment I Said It,” by Imogen Heap, “A Beautiful Mind,” by James Horner, ““Hurricane Herman,” by Thomas Newman, “The Letter That Never Came,” also by Thomas Newman, “Pokinoi,” by Rene Dupere, and “Minuano,” by Pat Metheny.
The Marching Knights have 93 members, and are under the direction of Hassell and Scott Johnson, with drum major Rebecca Ley.
Northern Wells High School’s recent history in ISSMA marching band competitions speaks of a consistent and solid program, along with an expectation of excellence.
This will be their ninth consecutive trip to the state finals, with first place finishes in 2002, 2005, and 2006.
On Saturday, Oct. 20, 2007, Norwell will compete in the Class C finals against Gibson Southern, Edgewood, Scottsburg, Heritage Hills, Vincennes Lincoln, Western, Concordia Lutheran, New Palestine, and NorthWood.
A performance schedule will be determined today in a random drawing and will be announced on the ISSMA website at www.issma.net, or at the unofficial but popular marching band fan website www.indianamarching.com.
The Bluffton High School Bengal Brigade had also hoped to repeat last season’s trip to the RCA Dome, but fell short of their goal amidst stiff competition in the Class D regional competition at Lafayette Jefferson High School, where they finished with a silver rating.
To earn a slot in the finals, bands had to earn a gold rating and finish in the top 50% of bands earning a gold rating. Last year the Bengal Brigade’s “Arrow Dynamics,” show earned them a ninth place finish overall at the state finals.
This year Bluffton’s “Best Seat in the House,” show, with an intricately choreographed performance depended on careful maneuvering and placement of the prop chairs. Bluffton High School band director Jim Bueter said, “The kids did really well.”
Bueter called Saturday’s performance the band’s best show of the season. As they completed their performance an upbeat Bueter told the band they had done awesome no matter how they scored.
“I told them they did really well and it was out of our hands,” Bueter said. “This year we tried something we had never done before.”
“It was a different style of show, and the props made it a harder show to perform. The kids had more responsibility and they handled it really well.”
One factor that made the band’s season more difficult than last year’s may have been the loss of many graduating seniors last year, with this year’s band composed of more younger students, with many of the new members being middle school aged.
Some fans expressed optimism that with so many new members, and less seasoned veterans, the band was still able to enjoy a successful season and advance to the regional competition.
Bueter said he and the band would take some time to relax and unwind, and reflect on this year’s show, and in a few weeks he would start thinking of ideas for next year’s show.
Bueter said the band enjoyed great support from the band parents, the boosters, and the entire community. “We have great support here in Bluffton,” Bueter said.
One of the highlights of the 2007 season for the Bengal Brigade will have a lasting impact on the band’s future seasons.
Earlier in the season the band realized a long time goal by purchasing a customized semi-trailer for transporting their equipment to shows. Getting a full size semi-trailer was a long time goal for the band parents and Bueter.
Bueter said he was happy for Norwell to see them advance and wished the best for the Marching Knights. “They have always supported us, and we support them now,” Bueter added. “We wish them all the best.”
The 66-member Bengal Brigade is under the direction of Bueter, along with assistant band director Scott Shoup, with drum major Jordan McCartney.
Their performance featured the musical selections, “Redline Tango,” by John Mackey, and “Carmen,” by Georges Bizet. Besides last year, Bluffton had also reached the state finals in 2004, also finishing in ninth place.
The Bengal Brigade had a string of strong seasons in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s, winning first place in 1979 and 1980, and finishing second in 1981.
In the Northern Regional Class D competition the following bands earned a trip to the State Finals: Tri-West, Triton Central, Pioneer, Lewis Cass, and Eastern (Greentown). They will be joined by five gold rated bands from the Southern Regional, which was held at Indiana State University.
Those bands include: Mater Dei, Paoli, North Posey, Springs Valley, and Forest Park.
Another local Class D band, the Adams Central Squadron of Sound continued to improve this season under the direction of former Wayne High School band director Michael Satterthwaite, earning a Gold Rating, but they were not ranked in the top five in that group and did not advance to the State Finals.
Satterthwaite is in his first year at Adams Central after 17 years leading the Wayne Blue Guard. The 45-member Squadron of Sound was led by drum major Keaton Becher, and their performance was titled, ““Memorial,” and featured the musical selections, “Adagio for Strings,” by Samuel Barber, and “Ocean Ridge Rhapsody,” by Robert Sheldon.
jgwallace@news-banner.com
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