Hello, Illinois people! My name is Seth Bradtmueller from IndianaMarching.com, and my buddy Dan asked me to give you a preview of the Indiana bands that will be competing this weekend at the Bands of America Indianapolis Super Regional. While most of you are probably familiar with the heavy hitters from Indiana, this weekend offers a rare opportunity for many Indiana bands that don’t normally compete in BOA to do so without extending their seasons. As you know, the Indianapolis Regional has normally been held between the ISSMA (Indiana State School Music Association) State Finals and the Bands of America Grand National Championships, but because of a conflict of dates with the FFA (Future Farmers of America) on October 27th (the day normally reserved for ISSMA State Finals), ISSMA and BOA redid their normal schedules and so ISSMA State Finals was pushed back a week to November 3rd, and BOA took this weekend’s dates. With the regional falling earlier, many Indiana bands decided to test the BOA waters (and get some experience performing in Lucas Oil Stadium).
Just to give you a brief overview of the way ISSMA is set-up (in case you aren’t familiar and because I’ll be mentioning ISSMA results), ISSMA uses a four class system, based on school enrollment. The largest schools compete in Class A, followed by Classes B, C, & D. There are 3 qualifying events before the State Finals. The first is the District contest (at 7 sites across the state), typically held on the fourth contest weekend. In order to advance, you must receive a Gold Rating. In Classes A & B, that requires a score of 60 or greater. In class C, you must score a 54, while in Class D, a 52 is required. Silver, Bronze, and Participation ratings are also given for those bands not meeting the Gold Rating (each level goes down in increments of 10, so a Silver Rating in Class A is between 50 and 60, Bronze between 40 and 50, and Participation is below 40). The bands who do advance move on to the Regional competition (4 sites, 2 North and 2 South, with two classes represented at each site) held two weeks later, where they are also given a rating. All Rating requirements increase by 10 points per level for the Regional competition, so in Class A, you must now score a 70 to receive a Gold Rating. The top 10 scoring bands (regardless of Rating) in each Class and site advance to the Semi-State competition, so each Class will have 20 bands (10 from the North, 10 from the South), competing for the right to advance to the State Finals (ratings are no longer given). The top 10 scoring bands at each Semi-State will then perform at State Finals. No scores are announced at any ISSMA event (and that’s a controversial topic every year).
So I hope you enjoy this preview, and I’ll do my best to let you know a little history of the bands competing, as well as give my own thoughts on who may be in the running for some Class Awards and Finalist positions.
Tell City (ISSMA Class D)
Show Title: “urbaniCITY”
The Marching Marksmen are a 19-time ISSMA State Finalist, having last made State in 2006. They’re also a former BOA Grand National Finalist, placing 5th all the way back in 1980. They last competed in a BOA event in 1987, where they made Finals at the Terre Haute Regional. So far this year, they’ve placed 6th at Evansville Central, 4th at Paoli, 6th at Evansville North, and 2nd at Heritage Hills. In ISSMA competitions, they received Gold Ratings at the District and Regional level. However, they failed to qualify for the Semi-State competition.
Pendleton Heights (ISSMA Class B)
Show Title: “Equilibrium”
Repertoire: “Fusion” by Brian Balmages
“Clair de Lune” by Claude Debussy
“Minuano” by Pat Metheny
The Marching Arabians last competed in a BOA event in 1996, where they placed 20th at the Cincinnati Regional. They have never qualified for the ISSMA State Finals. So far this year, they’ve placed 3rd at Lafayette Jefferson, 1st at Fishers, 4th at Lawrence Central, 4th at Avon, and 3rd at Homestead. In ISSMA events, they’ve received Gold Ratings at both Districts and Regionals, and have qualified to compete at the Class B Semi-State to be held at Pike High School.
Scottsburg (ISSMA Class C)
Show Title: “Connected”
Repertoire: Original Music by Michael Pote
The Band of Warriors competed in their very first BOA event earlier this year at the Louisville Regional, where they finished 18th. They are a 25 time ISSMA State Finalist, and were the 1989 ISSMA Class C State Champion. So far this year, they’ve placed 3rd at Lawrence Central, 3rd at Floyd Central, and 3rd at Center Grove. In ISSMA events, they’ve received a Gold Rating at both Districts and Regionals, and have qualified to compete in the Class C Semi-State at Decatur Central High School.
Floyd Central (ISSMA Class B)
Show Title: “The Pursuit of Joy”
This will mark the first ever appearance at a Bands of America event for the Highlander Band. They are a 10 time ISSMA State Finalist, placing 6th last year in Class B. Earlier this season they finished 1st at Columbus North, 2nd at Paoli, and 1st at North Harrison. In ISSMA events they received Gold Ratings at Districts (winning Best General Effect) and Regionals, and they’ve qualified for the Class B Semi-State contest at Pike. While I don’t expect them to place in Class, this is a very good band and one I’d recommend watching.
Westfield (ISSMA Class A)
Show Title: “Land of Wonder”
Repertiore: “Wonderland Overture”
“Pure Imagination”
“Land of Make Believe”
The Shamrock Pride will compete in their first BOA event this weekend. They have never qualified for ISSMA State Finals. Earlier this year they took 2nd at Lafayette Jefferson, 8th at Lawrence Central, and 7th at Center Grove. In ISSMA events they received a Gold Rating at Districts and Silver Rating at Regionals. They did not qualify for Semi-State.
Lawrence North (ISSMA Class A) **FINALIST CONTENDER**
Show Title: “The First Circle”
The Regime are having one of their best seasons in a long time. They last competed in BOA in 2007, where they received a Division I rating at Grand National Prelims. They are a 4 time Grand National Finalist (last in 1992), a 2 time Semi-Finalist (last in 2003), and an 8 time Regional Finalist. They were the 1985 Indianapolis Regional Champion and the 1989 Terre Haute Regional Class AAA Champion. They’re a 4 time ISSMA State Champion and an 18 time ISSMA State Finalist. Earlier this year they finished 4th at Lawrence Central, 1st at Hamilton Southeastern (where they beat Lawrence Central, albeit under suspect circumstances), and 3rd at Center Grove. They received Gold Ratings at both Districts and Regionals, and have advanced to the Class A Semi-State to be held at Ben Davis High School, where they look likely to qualify for State Finals for the first time since 2004. Of all the bands who I don’t consider Finals locks at this regional, in my mind they’re the most likely to make it.
Carmel (ISSMA Class A) **FINALIST LOCK** **Class AAAA Contender**
Show Title: “What a Tangled Web We Weave”
The Marching Greyhounds are the 2005 BOA Grand National Champion and the 2001 Grand National Class AAA Champion. They’ve made Grand National Finals for the last 16 years. They’ve won 13 Regional Championships, 11 Regional Class Championships, and made 39 Regional Finals. They’re also a 4 time ISSMA State Champion and a 23 time ISSMA State Finalist. Earlier this season they finished 1st at the Avon Invitational. In ISSMA events they received Gold Ratings at District (winning Best Visual & GE) and Regionals, and have qualified for the Class A Semi-State to be held at Ben Davis.
South Spencer (ISSMA Class D)
Show Title: “That’s the Key”
Repertoire: “Fur Elise”
“Toccata and Fugue in D Minor”
“The Entertainer”
“Moonlight Sonata”
“Rhapsody in Blue”
“Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Variation 18”
“Shake, Rattle, and Roll”
“Piano Man”
This is the first appearance at a BOA event for the Marching Rebels. They’re a 10 time ISSMA State Finalist, last appearing in 2001. So far this season, they finished 1st at FJ Reitz, 3rd at Evansville Central, 2nd at North Posey, 1st at Evansvile North, and 2nd at Castle. In ISSMA competition, they received Gold Ratings at both Districts and Regionals, and have qualified for the Class D Semi-State at Franklin Community High School where they have a great shot at making State Finals for the first time in 11 years.
Beech Grove (ISSMA Class C) **Class A Contender**
Show Title: “Bends and Folds”
Repertoire: “Philosphy” by Ben Folds
“The Luckiest” by Ben Folds
“Army” by Ben Folds”
Arranged by Craig Fitzpatrick
The Marching Hornets last appeared in BOA at the 2008 Indianapolis Regional, where they finished 25th. However, since then they’ve been steadily climbing the Class C ladder in Indiana, including a Runner-Up finish last year. They’re a 7 time ISSMA State Finalist. Earlier this season, they finished 3rd at Lafayette Jeff, 1st at Plainfield, 2nd at Avon, and 2nd at Center Grove. In ISSMA events, they received Gold Ratings at both Districts and Regionals, and have qualified for the Class C Semi-State at Decatur Central. If I had to guess, I think they’ll finish 4th or 5th in Class A, but they’re certainly in the mix for a Top 3 Spot.
Franklin Central (ISSMA Class A)
Show Title: “Aurora Borealis”
The Marching Flashes will be making their first appearance at a BOA event. Last year, they made ISSMA State Finals for the first time, placing 10th. This year they’ve finished 6th at Lawrence Central, 5th at Avon, and 4th at Center Grove. They received Gold Ratings at ISSMA Districts and Regionals, but did not qualify for Semi-State.
Columbus North (ISSMA Class A) **FINALIST CONTENDER** **Class AAA Contender**
Show Title: “Metroscapes”
The Sound of North are a 5 time Grand National Semi-Finalist (last in 2009). They were the 2009 Louisville Regional Class AAA Champion. They’re a 5 time BOA Regional Finalist, and an 8 time ISSMA State Finalist. They finished 1st at the Floyd Central contest earlier this season. In ISSMA competition, they’ve received Gold Ratings at Districts and Regionals, and have advanced to Semi-State at Ben Davis. They’ve been flying under the radar a bit this year after having a couple down years, but they appear to be back on the upswing, and while I think they’re a longshot for Finals, they’re definitely a contender.
Greenwood (ISSMA Class B) **FINALIST LOCK** **Class AA Contender**
Show Title: “Nocturne”
Repertoire: Original Music by Don Barrett
If you’re at all familiar with the Marching Woodmen, throw those thoughts away, because this is a completely different show than anything Greenwood has ever done, and so far this year it’s working out great. Last year, Greenwood competed in their first BOA event in a long time, and managed to make Finals at the Indianapolis Regional. They’re an 11 time ISSMA State Champion, and a 34 time ISSMA State Finalist. So far this season they’ve finished 1st at Lafayette Jeff, 1st at Lawrence Central, and 1st at Center Grove. In ISSMA events they received Gold Ratings at Districts (sweeping captions awards) and Regionals, and have qualified for Semi-State at Pike.
Northwestern (ISSMA Class C)
Show Title: “Scenes from an Italian Restaurant”
Repertoire: “Scenes from an Italian Restaurant” – Billy Joel
“Lullabye (Goodnight, My Angel)” – Billy Joel
The Tiger Pride are yet another band making their first appearance at a Bands of America event. They’re a 3 time ISSMA State Finalist (last in 2010). Earlier this season they finished 3rd at Kokomo, 3rd at Maconaquah, 3rd at Twin Lakes, and 2nd at Greenfield Central. They received Gold Ratings at ISSMA Districts and Regionals, but failed to qualify for Semi-State.
Ben Davis (ISSMA Class A) **FINALIST LOCK**
Show Title: “The Thin Line Between Love & Hate”
Repertoire: Original Music by Don Barrett
The Marching Giants should be no stranger to any reasonable marching band fan. They’re a 6 time Grand National Finalist, 12 time Semi-Finalist, and 14 time Regional Finalist. They’ve also been ISSMA State Champions 9 times, and have made 36 appearances in ISSMA State Finals. They finished 3rd earlier this season at the BOA Louisville Regional. In ISSMA contests, they received Gold Ratings at Districts and Regionals, and have qualified for the Class A Semi-State to be held on their home field.
Edgewood (ISSMA Class C) **Class A Contender**
Show Title: “Outside”
Repertoire: Music of Dmitri Shostakovich & Staind
The Marching Mustangs enter this event as the defending Class A Regional Champions (their 2nd Regional Class Championship). They’re a 7 time ISSMA State Finalist, with two runner-up finishes. So far in their undefeated season they placed 1st at Franklin Central, 1st at Lawrence Central, 1st at Avon, and 1st at Center Grove. In ISSMA events they’ve received Gold Ratings at both Districts and Regionals, while sweeping captions at Districts. They’ve qualified for the Class C Semi-State at Decatur Central.
Lafayette Jefferson (ISSMA Class A) **FINALIST CONTENDER**
Show Title: “A Day in the Life”
Repertoire: Original Music by Don Barrett
The Marching Bronchos last appeared in a BOA event in 2003, where they made Finals at the Louisville Regional (placing 9th). They’re a 5 time Grand National Finalist (last in 1986) and a 5 time Regional Finalist. They’ve also made 8 appearances at the ISSMA State Finals (last in 2010). So far this season they finished 1st at Maconaquah, 1st at Twin Lakes, and 3rd at Homestead. In ISSMA contests they received Gold Ratings at Districts and Regionals, and have qualified for the Class A Semi-State at Ben Davis.
Morristown (ISSMA Class D)
Show Title: “Freedom”
The Pride of Morristown’s last BOA appearance was in 2010 where they received a Division 3 rating at Grand Nationals. They’re a 2 time ISSMA State Finalist (last in 1991). While they competed at the ISSMA District level and received a Gold Rating, they chose not to continue in ISSMA events, and instead are focusing on the Mid-States circuit.
Western (ISSMA Class C) **FINALIST CONTENDER** **Class A Contender**
Show Title: “At the Water’s Edge”
Repertoire: “La Mer” – Claude Debussy
“Nocturnes” – Claude Debussy
“Daphnis et Chloe” – Maurice Ravel
“Romance” – Ralph Vaughan Williams
The Marching Panthers are the 4 time defending ISSMA Class C State Champions (and look primed to add a fifth consecutive title). In total, they’ve won 12 ISSMA State Championships, and made 26 ISSMA State Finals appearances. They’re also a 7 time BOA Grand National Finalist (last in 1990), 3 time National Class Champion, and a 2 time National Semi-Finalist (2010 & 2011). They have yet to lose this season, finishing 1st at Lafayette Jeff, Maconaquah, Twin Lakes, and Plymouth. In ISSMA competition, they received Gold Ratings at Districts and Regionals, and will compete at the Class C Semi-State at Decatur Central. They’re one of two favorites to take the Class A crown at this Regional and are in the mix to make Finals as well.
Perry Central (ISSMA Class D)
Show Title: “Nautilus”
Repertoire: “Cirque du Soleil’s O” – Benoit Jutras
“Cirque du Soleil’s Journey of Man” – Benoit Jutras
“Out of the Box” – Carol Brittin Chambers
The Marching Commodores are returning to BOA for the first time since 2002, when they last competed at the Indianapolis Regional. They’ve made ISSMA State Finals just one time, finishing 10th in 2001. They’ve been a slowly improving band that last couple years, and while they did not advance to Semi-State, they did receive Gold Ratings at both the District and Regional level. Earlier this season they took 3rd at Evansville Central, 1st at North Posey, 3rd at Evansville North, 3rd at Castle, and 1st at South Spencer.
Bloomington North (ISSMA Class B)
Show Title: “Concerto”
Repertoire: “Piano Concerto No. 1” – Keith Emerson
The Cougar Band has been a recent staple at the Indianapolis Regional. They’re a 9 time ISSMA State Finalist, as recently as 2010. So far this season, they’ve placed 3rd at Lawrence Central, 3rd at Greenwod, and 1st at Ben Davis. In ISSMA contests they received Gold Ratings at District (taking best Visual & GE) and Regionals. They’ll be competing at the ISSMA Class B Semi-State at Pike next weekend.
Center Grove (ISSMA Class A) **FINALIST LOCK**
Show Title: “The Guardians”
Repertoire: Music of Johann Sebastian Bach, including:
“Ave Maria”
“Toccata and Fugue in D Minor”
“Concerto for 2 Violins”
“Air on a G String”
“Fugue in G Minor”
The Marching Trojans are a nationally recognized band, having previously won the 1995 BOA Grand National Championships, as well as 3 National Class Championships. They’re a 14 time National Finalist, a 7 time Regional Champion, and 36 time Regional Finalist. In ISSMA, they’re a 3 time State Champion, and 31 time State Finalist. They finished 2nd at Fishers, 2nd at Lawrence Central, 3rd at Avon, and 1st at Greenwood. In ISSMA events, they earned Gold Ratings at District and Regionals, and have qualified for Semi-State. This is a pretty strong show for Center Grove, so expect a good placing at Finals this year.
Terre Haute North (ISSMA Class A)
Show Title: “What’s Yours is Mine!”
Repertoire: Music of Mingus, Holsinger, Shire, and Smith
This is the first BOA appearance for the Patriot Brigade. They have never made ISSMA State Finals. Earlier this season they finished 1st at Columbus North, 1st at Martinsville, 1st at Hamilton Southeastern, and 4th at Ben Davis. They received a Gold Rating at District and a Silver Rating at Regionals. They failed to qualify for Semi-State.
Lawrence Central (ISSMA Class A) **FINALIST LOCK** **Class AAAA Contender**
Show Title: “Col Legno”
Repertoire: “The Wooden Prince” – Bela Bartok
“Grohg” – Aaron Copland
“Proven Lands” – Jonny Greenwood
The Spirit of Central are another of Indiana’s familiar groups. They’re a 2 Time Grand National Champion (2001 & 2004), 15 time National Finalist, 8 time Regional Champion, 8 time Regional Class Champion, and 25 time Regional Finalist. They’ve also won 4 ISSMA State Championships and are a 21 time ISSMA State Finalist. This season they finished 2nd at Avon, 2nd at Hamilton Southeastern, and 2nd at Center Grove. They received Gold Ratings at ISSMA District (winning Best Music) and Regionals, and have qualified for Semi-State at Ben Davis.
DeKalb (ISSMA Class B) **Class AA Contender**
Show Title: “Let the Light Guide Your Way”
Repertoire: Original Music by Michael Pote
The Baron Brigade competed earlier this year at the Pontiac Regional, just missing Finals by placing 11th. They’re a former Regional Finalist (2008 Ypsilanti, where they beat Plymouth-Canton) and a 19 time ISSMA State Finalist. They placed 1st at Bluffton and 4th at Penn earlier this season. In ISSMA contests, they received a Gold Rating at Districts (sweeping captions) and Regionals, and have advanced to Semi-State at Pike. While, I think they’re a longshot to place in Class AA at this Regional, I had to at least give them a shot.
Fishers (ISSMA Class A)
Show Title: “In the Air”
Repertoire: Original Music by Seth Woodard
The Marching Tigers are in their 7th year of existence, and last appeared in BOA at the 2010 Louisville Regional, where they were a finalist. So far this season, they finished 5th at Lawrence Central and 4th at Avon. They received Gold Ratings at both the ISSMA District and Regional level, and have advanced to the ISSMA Semi-State at Ben Davis.
Concord (ISSMA Class B) **FINALIST CONTENDER** **Class AA Contender**
Show Title: ”Clash of the Patterns”
Repertoire: “The Art of Fugue, Contrapunctus I” by Johann Sebastian Bach
“Blue Rondo a la Turk” – Dave Brubeck
“Prelude, Fugue, and Riffs” – Leonard Bernstein
The Marching Minutemen last competed in BOA in 2008, when they competed in the BOA Sound Check, the first marching event held at Lucas Oil Stadium. They’re a 3 time Regional Finalist (the last time in 1989 at Terre Haute). They’re also a 4 time ISSMA State Champion (last year’s Class B champion) and 28 time ISSMA State Finalist. So far this season they finished 1st at Goshen and 3rd at Penn. In ISSMA contests they received Gold Ratings at District (Best Music) and Regionals, and will be competing at Semi-State at Pike.
Jeffersonville (ISSMA Class A)
Show Title: “Alice”
Repertoire: “Insanity of Imaginary World” – Frank Sullivan
The Marching Red Devils performed earlier this year at the BOA Louisville Regional where they placed 14th. They also finished 2nd at the North Harrison Invitational. In ISSMA competition, they received a Gold Rating at Districts and a Silver Rating at Regionals, and they did not qualify for Semi-State.
Springs Valley (ISSMA Class D) **Class A Contender**
Show Title: “Links”
Repertoire: “The Day of the Match Dawns” – Rachel Portman
“The Front Nine” – Stan Phillips & Luke Aylsworth
“Broken Dreams” – Brian Tyler
“The Putt” – Stan Phillips & Luke Aylsworth
The Blackhawk Brigade last appeared in BOA in 2010, when they participated in the BOA Louisville Regional. The year before that they were a Grand National Semi-Finalist, where they finished 3rd in Class A. They’re a 2 time ISSMA State Champion (as recently as 2010) and a 20 time ISSMA State Finalist. This year they finished 1st at Paoli, 1st at Greenwood, and 1st at Center Grove. They received Gold Ratings at both ISSMA District (Best Music) and Regionals, and will compete at the ISSMA Semi-State at Franklin Community.
Castle (ISSMA Class A) **FINALIST CONTENDER** **Class AAA Contender**
Show Title: “How Suite It Is”
Repertoire: “The Nutcracker Suite” – Peter Tchaikovsky
“The Firebird Suite” – Igor Stravinsky
“Channel One Suite” – Bill Reddie
The Marching Knights are no stranger to BOA. They made Finals at the first Indianapolis Super Regional last year. They’re a 4 time Grand National Semi-Finalist (twice just barely missing Finals), 2 time Regional Class Champion, and 12 time Regional Finalist. They’ve had 22 appearances at the ISSMA State Finals. Being the only Class A school in the Evansville area, they have rarely competed against anyone in their class, and therefore placed 1st at all the non-ISSMA contests they entered. In ISSMA events they received Gold Ratings at the District and Regional level, and will compete in Semi-State at Ben Davis.
Terre Haute South (ISSMA Class B)
Show Title: “Joy”
The Pride of South will be once again appearing at the BOA Indianapolis Regional. Last year they placed 26th at this event. In earlier competitions, they placed 4th at Columbus North, 4th at Plainfield, 6th at Greenwood, and 7th at Center Grove. They received a Gold Rating at ISSMA District and a Silver Rating at Regionals. They did not advance to Semi-State.
Maconaquah (ISSMA Class C)
Show Title: “Chaos Theory: The Butterfly Effect”
This marks the first appearance for the Marching Braves at a Bands of America event since 1999, where they finished 18th at the Louisville Regional. This band is a former Grand National Finalist (in 1981) and they were Class Champions of the 1988 Normal (yes, Illinois hosted a Regional once) Regional where they were also a Finalist. They are a 21 time ISSMA State Finalist (last appearing in 2006). So far this season they placed 2nd at Lafayette Jefferson, 2nd at Twin Lakes, and 1st at Ben Davis. They received Gold Ratings at both ISSMA District and Regionals, and will participate in Semi-State at Decatur Central. This is a very good Class A band.
Twin Lakes (ISSMA Class C)
Show Title: “Finding Home”
This will be the first ever appearance for the Spirit of Twin Lakes at a BOA event. They are a 5 time ISSMA State Finalist. They’ve been steadily rising up the Class C ranks this year, having placed 5th at Lafayette Jefferson, 2nd at Kokomo, 4th at Maconaquah, and 3rd at Homestead. In ISSMA contests they received Gold Ratings at both Districts and Regionals, and will compete at Semi-State next weekend.
Lake Central (ISSMA Class A) **FINALIST LOCK**
Show Title: “The Hero With a Thousand Faces”
The Tribe of Pride are a 14 time Grand National Semi-Finalist, and arguably one of the best bands to never make Finals. They’re also a 12 time BOA Regional Finalist and a 13 time ISSMA State Finalist. In their only non-ISSMA contest this year, they placed 1st at Concord. In ISSMA competition, they received Gold Ratings at District (sweeping captions) and Regionals, and have qualified for Semi-State at Ben Davis.
Penn (ISSMA Class A) **FINALIST CONTENDER**
Show Title: “Unlocked”
The Marching Kingsmen last appeared in BOA at the 2010 Indianapolis Regional, where they finished 14th. They’re a 2 time BOA Regional Finalist and 16 time ISSMA State Finalist. This season they finished 2nd at Concord and 1st at Concord. They received Gold Ratings at ISSMA District and Regionals and will perform at Ben Davis for the ISSMA Semi-State next weekend.
Forest Park (ISSMA Class D) **FINALIST CONTENDER** **Class A Contender**
Show Title: “Magnum Opus”
Repertoire: Original Music by Chad Gayso
“Lux Aurumque” – Eric Whitacre
The Marching Rangers are a former Grand National Semi-Finalist in 2007, and that marks their last appearance at a BOA event. They’re a 6 time ISSMA State Champion and a 32 time ISSMA State Finalist. They’re having a banner year so far, with an undefeated season, having won several Grand Champion trophies over great bands like Castle. In ISSMA contests, they received Gold Ratings at District (Best Visual and GE) and Regionals, and they’ll perform at the Class D Semi-State at Franklin Community.
Paoli (ISSMA Class D) **Class A Contender**
Show Title: “The Phoenix”
Repertoire: “The Firebird” – Igor Stravinsky
“Piano Concerto No. 2” – Sergei Rachmaninoff
The Pride of Paoli is without question the greatest small band in Indiana history, having won a record 15 ISSMA State Championships. While they are no longer at their peak, they’re still a band you can never overlook. They last appeared at BOA in 1987, where they were a Finalist at the Terre Haute Regional. They’re a former Grand National Finalist (1983), Regional Class Champion, and 2 time Regional Finalist. They’ve had 28 appearances at the ISSMA State Finals. This season they placed 3rd at North Harrison, 2nd at Floyd Central, and 1st at Salem. They earned a Gold Rating at both ISSMA Districts and Regionals, and they’ve advanced to the Semi-State competition.
Munster (ISSMA Class B)
Show Title: “Bloom”
Repertoire: “Pastoral Symphony” – Ludwig Van Beethoven
“Flower Duet” – Leo Delibes
“Flight of the Bumblebee” – Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov
The Mustang Marching Band made their first BOA appearance earlier this year, placing 12th at the Pontiac Regional. This rising band made their first appearance at ISSMA State Finals last year, finishing 10th in Class B. They have one of the most must see shows this year, simply to see the trombone feature on Flight of the Bumblebee! Besides their BOA appearance, they finished 2nd at Maconaquah and earned Gold Ratings at both ISSMA Districts and Regionals, and they’ll be performing at Semi-State at Pike.
Norwell (ISSMA Class C) **Class AA Contender**
Show Title: “Creye”
Repertoire: “Chorale IV” – Karl Jenkins
“Chorale VI” – Karl Jenkins
“Lux Aurumque” – Eric Whitacre
Original Music by Michael Pote
Much like DeKalb, the Marching Knights are probably a long shot to place in Class AA, but I have to give them a shot. They’re a 2 time National Class Champion, a 4 time National Semi-Finalist, 5 time Regional Class Champion, and 3 time Regional Finalist. In ISSMA, they’re a 3 time State Champion and a 19 time State Finalist. They’re having another outstanding year this season, placing 2nd at Bluffton, 1st at DeKalb, 1st at East Noble, 1st at Homestead, and 1st at Snider. They won Best Music and GE at ISSMA District, while earning a Gold Rating, and followed that up with a Gold Rating at Regionals. They’ll be performing at the Class C Semi-State at Decatur Central on Oct. 27th.
Avon (ISSMA Class A) **FINALIST LOCK** **Class AAAA Contender**
Show Title: “Feast or Famine”
Repertoire: “Belshazzar’s Feast” – William Walton
“Heroes” (as performed by Peter Gabriel) – David Bowie
“Slava” – Leonard Bernstein
“Bacchanale” – Camille Saint-Saens
Do I really need to tell you about the Marching Black & Gold? 3 time National Champion, 4 time National Class Champion, 10 time National Finalist, 15 time National Semi-Finalist, 5 time Regional Champion, 10 time Regional Class Champion, 16 time Regional Finalist…most of that in the last 10 years. They’re also a 9 time ISSMA State Champion and 18 time ISSMA State Finalist. They’re having another undefeated season, finishing 1st at Franklin Central, Fishers, Lawrence Central, and Center Grove. They earned Gold Ratings at ISSMA District and Regionals, and will perform at the Class A Semi-State at Ben Davis.
So that’s what you can expect from the Indiana contingent at the Indianapolis Super Regional. The non-Indiana bands I’ll be keeping an eye on are Lincoln-Way East, Westminster (MD), Timber Creek (FL), Marian Catholic (DUH), Centerville (OH), and Plymouth-Canton (MI). All these bands have a shot at Finals, with Marian Catholic and Plymouth-Canton being locks to be performing Saturday night. If you’re making the trip to Lucas Oil Stadium this weekend, I hope you’ll enjoy our Hoosier Hospitality, and best of luck to the Illinois bands who are competing.
Illinois Marching Online thanks Seth for his commentary.
(full article)