After a long and hardworking season, the Delaware Hayes’ marching band received a rating of excellent this past Sunday at Piqua High School for their OMEA state competition.
Around 120 bands competed in the state competition over a course of four days at different high schools. The band qualified for states after receiving a superior rating at River View on Oct. 11.
This year’s show, “What Opera Doc?” included classical music and colorful visuals as a nod to the show “Looney Tunes.” Although they were aiming for a superior rating, they received an excellent, which is one below superior.
“Our performance [at states] was not at all [a] representation of our season,” drum major Penelope Stacey said.
Stacey reported that the main reason the band didn’t receive a superior was because of a minor issue in listening.
“It was a ‘tear’… [or] when two sides of the band are not playing at the same part so it sounds weird in the music,” Stacey said. “But I think the rest of the show after that was pretty good.”
Some of their higher scoring categories included Visual and General Effect (GE). Visual includes the set and movement, and GE is the bridge between musical and visual elements.
“The best way to explain [GE] is audience engagement,” band director Bill Fowles said. “[When we put the] visuals and the music together, it tells the story and captivates the audience.”
Outside of Visual and GE, Fowles reported that the band had inconsistent scores in the music category.
“[The rating] doesn’t really define how successful our season was,” Fowles said. “We accomplished a lot of really awesome things this year.”
Playing in the band is a commitment, with rehearsals starting in July and ending late October after their competitions. They needed to receive a rating of a one, or superior, at a district competition before they moved on to states. They ended up receiving two superiors: one at their Newark competition and one at River View.
“It really makes me proud to see them all come together to do and accomplish what we do,” Fowles said. “It takes a lot of time, and it takes a lot of effort to put on a marching band show.”
Outside their rating at states, the band had a rewarding season. Among their achievements this year is receiving a Grand Champion award at their River View competition.
“We were able to Grand Champion, which [is when] you get first overall [out of all the bands] regardless of class,” Fowles said. “[It was] the first time that’s happened in my career and it’s the first time it’s happened here at Delaware for several years.”
The band has the opportunity to receive awards at each competition they attend. The band typically competes in four competitions a year. Stacey described the process of participating in competitions as exciting.
“We get off the bus, then we have the rehearsal before, and then we go on [to perform],” Stacey said. “It’s kind of stressful, but it’s also a serious and focused time for the band.”
Overall, the students’ hard work did not go unnoticed this season.
“The students make it special,” Fowles said. “Each year is a different year, each year is a different group, and each year has its challenges, but also it has its successes and high points.”
