The Armstrong River Hawks Marching Band prepares to celebrate its tenth year of halftime shows, with this year’s halftime show “Soaring Through The First Decade.” 

The Armstrong River Hawks Marching Band is led by Drum Majors, Zoey Dobrosky, and Marlee Smith, drum captains, Cassidy Smith, and Austin Quinn, and color guard section leader Hannah Taylor. 

“Soaring Through the First Decade”, consists of three songs. The first song of the show is “Riverdance Finale”, and this song features a dance drum break. The next song is, “Come Sail Away”, which features a trumpet solo, and features our color guard. The final song, “Can’t Help Falling Love”, made popular by Elvis Presley, the first stanza of his hit famous song is being sung by some of the members in the march, while the rest are playing an insert composed by band director Mr. Venesky.

Senior Drum Major Zoey Dobrosky stated that the band was able to come up with this year’s halftime show theme by looking back at the previous shows throughout the past years and selecting songs from them.

The band has come a long way with this year officially marking the tenth of halftime shows. According to Marlee’s overall thoughts about this being the band’s tenth year of halftime shows is that “it gives us as the band a sense that we have come so far and we’ve kept this music going through ten years and the show, and that it increasing which shows our growth from the first year to the tenth year.”

Both drum majors have experienced challenging things as they are carrying on leadership roles for the band. 

Zoey says the most challenging thing she has had to learn as a drum major is, “finding a way to do the same things at the same time.” Marlee’s most challenging for her to learn as a drum major is, “mentally remembering everything”, along with “staying together”, and “being confident in yourself to yell loud with specific tempos.