Volume VI Issue I

“Even if we don’t win every competition, even if we win no competitions, [our goal is to] just make people happy with our music and be happy with our own music”, quoted Jameson Moulds, a Drum Major for Steinert’s Marching Band. Striving to share our music to the best of our collective ability is and has long been the rooted goal of Steinert’s Marching Unit. 

Every year, the Steinert Marching Unit offers music and entertainment to spectators at all Steinert Varsity Football Games. You can find the marching band performing at halftime for home games, and pregame for away games. Last year’s show, “The Arena”, was a great success — winning best music at all competitions our marching band attended! This year, the band is bringing an ocean themed show to audiences; “Out to Sea”. The show features Sirens and Sailors with captivating visuals which continue to expand with every performance. Sea shanties you may recognize appear in the show including The Wellerman and Loch Lomond. 

Led by Drum Majors Keira Elliott and Jameson Moulds, “Out to Sea” has started off well. The band recently performed at the first competition of the season, reaching a first place score of 73.8, winning best overall music, best overall visual, and parents being awarded best field crew. This hard-earned score is the starting point for the SMU’s future competition goals. Mr. Ketterer, the director of the marching band, states, “Our goal is to get better each time and to build upon a score. Every time competing, it’s not really where you place in your group, but as long as you get better and stronger and score higher throughout.” Persistently improving the show, piece by piece, is what made our show so great last year, and what we are determined to do this year.

The SMU’s Color Guard has taken a great artistic leap this year, adding more challenging material to their routine. Guard Captain Hannah Hutchins elaborates on this, “Last year was a whole other ballgame with the choreography and this year we have definitely challenged ourselves by adding more advanced skills and increasing the amount of acting we have to do. This is a very different show compared to last year since we have a lot more acting to do to get the scores we want. We also have new equipment and ideas that we wanted to try out.” Divided into groups of Sirens and Sailors, the acting which the Color Guard has done this year is much higher than last year, but members have taken the adjustment in stride, receiving positive feedback at the most recent competition.

“This group is wonderful when it comes to making good bonds with other people. I feel like it’s especially prominent because you’re not just [focused on] the aspect of competition, it’s the aspect of performing. And I feel like that brings out the best in people.” tells Marc Reyes, Band Captain and Trumpet soloist. This sense of community resounds through the entire band. As a member of the SMU, my personal opinion is as follows: The marching band is a great place to become a better musician and meet others who care as vehemently for making music as you do; I’ve met so many great people in marching band that I may never have gotten the opportunity to talk with otherwise. All in all it’s an activity that is and will remain incredibly dear to me, and I encourage all to look deeper into the passion and dedication which goes into making our marching band what it is.