Colony band marching to national competition

PALMER — The Colony High School marching band has achieved a lot of firsts for Alaska, but its most recent one might take the cake.

On November 13, the band – known as “THEE Northern Sound” – will be the first from the state to compete in the Grand National Championships in Indianapolis. The Knights will represent one of 92 schools from across the country that will battle through potentially three rounds of competition for trophies (called “captions”) in various instrumental divisions, as well as the prize for best overall band performance.

“It’s the highest level of competition for high school marching bands in the country,” said band director Jamin Burton, of the championships.

Since Colony’s marching band seems to be the only one in Alaska to last more than one or two years in a row in the last two decades, and this year it is once again the only high school marching band in the state, it’s no surprise the Knights were invited to the national competition. However, though they may not have competed band-versus-band prior to selection, they have had many practices and assessments.

After each half-time performance at Colony football games, just like the athletes and their coaches, Burton said he and the band regroup to discuss what they did well and what they could have improved upon. The band also hosts an invitational each year, where the musicians have an opportunity to perform longer, more elaborate pieces (theoretically in competition with other bands, though none are available this year).

In the Lower 48, those invitationals are the norm, Burton said.

“If you’re in a band Outside, you have a competition every weekend in the fall,” he said.

And though the Colony band has made do without such consistent, head-to-head performances, for some personalities, that does encourage personal progress.

“I think we’ve proven we don’t need it (competition) but it is a motivating factor for some people,” Burton said.

Drum major Jessica Rentz, a junior at Colony, said it’s easy for students to get complacent when they don’t really know what they or anyone else is capable of doing. The Tournament of Roses Parade at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California in January 2014, she said, “was kind of an eye opener” in that respect.

“We’re a pretty good band, but we saw other high schools and professional bands competing at such an insane level that I feel like it inspired every one of us,” Rentz said. “(It) let us know, realistically, what to expect.”

Burton said it was also the band’s invitation to the Rose Parade that made he and the students start to see Grand Nationals as an option. Cost and access is still an issue — the students are continuing to raise money for the venture by selling frozen desserts and kitchen supplies, as well as working at the school’s Upbeat Café — but now he and the returning students know that the effort is worth it.

Senior trombone player William Delph said the caliber of Colony’s marching band was the reason he came to the school, rather than attending Wasilla High (since he lives near the boundary between the areas the two schools draw from). He said he’ll be glad to give Alaskans “something to cheer for” by representing the state in an out-of-state competition for a niche activity like marching band.

Freshman color guard member Kaitlyn Gilley said she, too, is excited to show off the special talent Alaska has to offer.

“People don’t really expect us to be in competitions in the Lower 48 just because we’re far away,” she said.

But it’s not just about what other people see or think, Gilley said. One of the great things about being a part of a marching band, competitive or otherwise, is what it teaches the individual about confidence. As a member of the color guard, Gilley said it can be intimidating to throw flags in the air and attempt to catch them again while moving, but the right mindset can make all the difference.

“Skill is involved but if you trust yourself it’s a lot easier,” she said.

Freshman trombone player Emily Sager said she too is hoping to use the competition experience to train herself not to be as nervous when performing in front of people. Personal growth should be expected by every musician, and coming home with a trophy would be an added bonus, she said, though that’s not necessarily the goal.

“It doesn’t really matter about winning, it’s just an exciting thing to do,” Sager said.

The Colony High School marching band’s one and only public preview of their Grand National Championships performance will be at Colony on Sept. 24.

Contact Burton at 861-5584 or email jamin.burton@matsuk12.us for more information.

Contact reporter Caitlin Skvorc at 352-2266 or caitlin.skvorc@frontiersman.com.