From football games to assemblies, the award-winning OHS marching band returned for the 2024 fall season, producing symphonies and stirring school spirit. Home to 12 different sections, the marching band encompasses not only a variety of shiny hand-held instruments, but color guard and percussion as well.
Every show that the marching band performs has an underlying meaning and symbolism represented through the set, costumes, and this year, colors.
“The show is called ‘Where the yard lines end’… it’s based on Shel Silverstein’s poem ‘Where the sidewalk ends’. It starts in black and white, so the marching band goes through these yard lines and removes the mold of what we are and adds color to it…, The color guard goes from black and white then adds all these colors,” said Austin Cilone, band director.
However, the marching band’s spectacular performances are well-earned outcomes of the hard work they put in, from physical training to practicing their instruments for the show.
“Usually we have two or three-hour practices before [the competition] just to prepare. We usually start with PT, like running and stretching with Mr. Cilone, our band director, and we run into the usual basics, like marching in time, practicing tosses for color guard, just generally preparing our show and running over it, and cleaning up little mistakes,” said Maria Joniec, junior.
The amount of work put into practicing and perfecting the shows may be stressful for many students, but their love for the program keeps them involved.
“Many times, I feel exhausted and tired and I spend a lot of time with these people, so sometimes they get on my nerves. But I end up getting over it because I realize that it’s just marching band, it’s here for fun, it’s for my friends and getting to spend time,” Joniec said.
Because of its large time commitment, marching band requires high schoolers to find a balance between their duty as both students and musicians. Most students find any spare time they can to finish up their homework in order to free room in their schedules for practice.
“I definitely use Talon Time a lot to make sure that I’m keeping up with my school work. I haven’t really ever had a huge problem with falling behind in school and doing marching band. Because we do have days off… relatively I keep up with the school work,” said Paige Wells, junior.
Outside of practices, students also participate in fundraisers, such as Trunk or Treat and car washes. With the help of staff and boosters, they can host these events to cover the program’s costs.
“The marching band has a lot of traditions… Even next week… our boosters will come in and they’ll decorate the building for us and get everything ready,” Cilone said. “And then they also do all these fundraisers and if the students fundraise enough, they get to pie me in the face and do all these awful, awful things to me.”
Through the times they spend practicing and performing together under the guidance of their director, marching band creates a comfortable yet energetic environment.
“At the end of the day, it’s just one big family. Everyone loves each other; everyone knows each other, and it’s just a really comfortable place to be,” said Chase Norton, senior.
There are even traditions created by this tightly knitted community that create lasting memories in the students and cause them to enjoy being in it even more.
“My favorite part is definitely after we’ve performed… no matter what the score is we always do a tradition, we always go like ’band, ten, hut, pride.’ It’s just really cool and we hold hands before the score is announced,” Wells said. “[After the competitions,] everybody has so much energy and likes to sing songs on the bus. We had an exhibition on Tuesday and we sang Christmas songs on the bus, the whole ride back.”
Apart from the students, the director plays a major role in shaping the environment. Not only does he promote a positive culture, but Cilone tries to be a role model who students can reach out to when they need support.
“Regardless, if they’re in the school walls or not, it’s someone that they can lean on to be helpful. If they’re scared, I can help them be brave. If they’re sad, I can help them be happy. So I hope that’s what they think of when they think of Mr. Cilone, not some mean, scary, over-caffeinated person,” Cilone said.
Marching band is a community that is more than just creating good music. Along with other programs offered at OHS, marching band builds character within and outside the school community.
“It’s always great to be a part of something that’s bigger than just you. Like I said, when you’re working with friends for a common goal, it makes you a stronger person. And that doesn’t matter if you’re part of the marching band, or the football team, or the dance team, or the spirit line. It’s all about being a part of a combined effort to try and make those things happen… the fact that we also sound good is just a bonus,” Cilone said.
