MORE THUNDE.RING FROM THE HERD The Thundering Herd marching band plays four musical numbers during the home football season This year the Bison football team only played four home games. To accommodate the change in schedule, the Thundering Herd marching band performed four different shows, one at each home game. Typically, the band played three different shows several times, but this year the schedule was much tighter and required an intensification of the band practice schedule. Doing four shows instead of three meant the band would have to work together in a faster and more efficient way. The members practiced for two and a half hours Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and an hour on Saturdays before the football games. In addition to the four rehearsals for each show, band members had to invest more practice time on their own. According to junior clarinet player Amy Bailey, the various instrument sections also had to organize practices outside of the scheduled practice times. "It was challenging," junior snare drum player Blake Muncy said. "Every two weeks we would be learning a whole new show. In previous years, we would play a show two or three times. This year, we had one shot Thundering Herd Est. 1951: Row 1: A. Warzecha, A. Warzecha, D. Schuler, C. Longshore, B. Vaughan, E. Sneed, S. Wallis, B. Foreman, A. Nightengale. Row 2: K. Finley, E. Lafferty, A. Petty, K. Walsh, E. Eason, B. Freesmeyer, J. Fields, K. Colburn, C. Rogers, B. Muncy, S. Breedlove, J. Friswold, J. Snell. Row 3: A. Bailey, B. Gray, B. Kay, K. Warren, K. McCoy, S. Greninger, S. Wideman, S. Schroy, N. Daniel, R. Hammond, R. Rorabaugh, L. Teachworth, M. Higginbotham, H. Arthur, C. Harrison, A. Jones, D. Bolton, C. Allensworth. Row 4: N. Roberts, J. Ward, B. Wagner, C. Webster, J. Harvey, A. Hayes, Z. McCoy, N. Alexander, A. Westjohn, E. Robson, D. Sigmund, G. Klemmer, C. Woods, L. Tindell, N. Ellis, J. Wright, C. Mauk, K. Morkassel, T. Smith. 244 I Organizations for each performance." The four shows' themes were the.Foo Fighters, Jazz, Latin and Michael Jackson. Dr. Wesley Parker, director of the Thundering Herd, chose themes he thought would best engage and entertain the audience. Junior drum major Jessica Snell said the band enjoyed preparing for the Michael Jackson show, her favorite. The success of the Thundering Herd was directly related to the work ethic of the members. They knew that the tightness'of the show schedule demanded their focus and hard work, and they were willing to give it. "The Thundering Herd is great because it's not only the talent of the members, but also the work people are willing to put into it, especially considering we did four shows this year, and it took a lot of time," Muncy said. "People are there because they are willing to do it, and they want to be there." Because of all the time spent together, the band members developed close relationships with each other. Bonds were formed both on the practice field and off because the band did everything from sharing meals to going on canoeing trips together. Pep Band Est. 1951: Row 1: A Warzecha,A Warzecha, D. Schuler, C. Longshore, B. Vaughan, E. Sneed, S. Wallis, A. Nightengale. Row 2: K. Finley, E. Lafferty, A. Petty, K. Walsh , E. Eason, B. Freesmeyer, J. Fields, B. Muncy, S. Breedlove, J. Friswold, J. Snell. Row 3: A. Bailey, B. Gray, B. Kay, K. Warren, K. McCoy, S. Greninger, S. Wideman, S. Schroy, R. Hammond, M. Higginbotham, H. Arthur, D. Bolton, C. Allensworth. Row 4: N. Roberts, B. Wagner, C. Webster, J. Harvey, A. Hayes, Z. McCoy, N.Aiexander,A Westjohn, D. Sigmund, C. Woods, L. Tindell, N. Ellis, J. Wright, K. Morkassel, T. Smith. "The Thundering Herd is so fantastic because we are like a big family," Snell said. "I love how involved we are in each other's lives outside of band. It's not just a group that gets together three times a week but a group of tight-knit friends." According to Bailey, band members cherished the time they spent together and used it to unite and to encourage one another. "We are a family because we choose to be a family," Bailey said. "We cherish the freedom to worship God together and make music for His glory." Bailey went to say that the band was responsible for personal growth in all the members' lives. "I have learned to love people from square one, and that working hard and worshiping God with people are some of the best ways to get to know them," Bailey said. The unusual demands on the Thundering Herd marching band required more work and concentration than ever before, and the band rose to the challenge. The season reaffirmed the members' unity in their passion for music and in their passion for God. Rachel Weiss Wind Ensemble Originally Concert Band est. 1951, Wind Ensemble est. 2001: Row 1: S. Bonner, J Friswold, K. McCoy, N. Daniel, B. Kay, M. Evans, A Bailey. Row 2: S. Wideman, S. Hines, S. Greninger, S. Wallis, H. Arthur, R. Rorabaugh, K. Warren. Row 3: C. Harrison, M. Higginbotham, D. Bolton, C. Allensworth, A. Jones. Row 4: J. Goellner, C. Woods, G. Klemmer, D. Roper, J. Wright, N. Ellis, A Warzecha, M. Chance, N. Strange, J. Oden. Row 5: B. Vaughn, J. Snell, C Longshore, C. Rogers, D. Schuler, K. Finley, J. Fields, S. Breedlove. A Hayes, A Ortiz, J Harvey, Z. McCoy, N. Alexander, A Westjohn, L. Richmond, E. Robson.
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