A group of 140 disciplined students, sporting jerseys with a vibrant blue base and faded white dots, fill the hallways of Cass High School on an average Friday evening. These students compose the Cass High Marching Band and work diligently in both academics and the performing arts. The 2024 band season, directed by Mr. Iddings and Mr. Shive explored themes of perseverance, freedom, and revolution through their show, “Neon Dystopia.” It included popular songs such as “Chandelier” by Sia, “Boulevard of Broken Dreams” by Green Day, and “Separate Ways” by Journey. This year’s vibrant performances reached new heights and were showcased all the way in Indianapolis at the Bands of America Grand Nationals.
Band Camp: The Foundation for Success
Prior to the commencement of the school year, the performers spend a period called band camp obtaining information and arranging the early moments of the show. These students work diligently for 12-hour days across a ten day period. A common misconception is that this process is of considerable length and therefore, miserable. However, these students are devoted to their craft and wish to inspire future generations to follow suit. To corroborate this idea, front ensemble member Emma Brown stated, “Band camp is really your first impression of new members and freshmen, so it was a cool opportunity to get to know them.” The front ensemble portion of a marching band is typically positioned at the front, requiring minimal movement due to the stationary position of the instruments. For the 2024 season, this section of the band received extra attention during the summer band camps, leading to further success in future endeavors. To centralize the vast number of performers, drum majors Nicholas Moser, Isabelle Morris, and Charlotte Langhans are responsible for conducting the rehearsals and shows. This is critical to sustaining a solid rhythm and preventing mistakes. Besides the wind players and percussion instrumentalists, another important part is the color guard. The color guard section is in charge of incorporating visual elements with flags, rifles, and various equipment. The Cass Marching Band’s 12-day summer camp was beneficial to all sections and helped integrate new members.
Public Performances and Community Engagement
To demonstrate their dedication, the Cass High Marching Band offers a variety of public performances. These include events like the Christmas and Black History parades in Downtown Cartersville or performances at our local middle schools. Competition performances take place in a strict setting and demand great focus. One such example is the White Columns Invitational, hosted by Milton High School. Typically the final competition of the year, this event serves as both a homestretch and a final challenge for the band. Locally, the marching band perform alongside other high schools in the county, including Cartersville High School, Woodland High School, and Adairsville High School. Additionally, preview shows offer performers the opportunity to showcase their hard work in a more relaxed setting. A case in point is when, on September 9th, the first full performance was given in the football stadium. Moreover, The Cass Marching Band also performs at most football games to energize the crowd and stir up excitement in the student section. Hosting these local events and performing for younger band audiences both promotes their success in “Neon Dystopia” and inspires new recruits for future seasons. The Cass 2024 band season assembled many shows leading to the final decision at Grand Nationals.
Bands of America: The homestretch to Grand Nationals
Notably, for the 2024 season, the preliminary stages of the Bands of America competition provided the band with insight into their future competitors and showcased their commitment to victory. These regional events took place in Johnson City, Tennessee, Chattanooga, Tennessee, and then wrapped up this year at Grand Nationals in Indianapolis, Indiana. There was gratuitous preparation leading up to this event, and on Friday, November 15th, prelims finally arrived. A bright sun illuminated Lucas Oil Stadium, as hundreds of students from around the country anxiously awaited their turn to take center stage. The first performances determined who would compete in the semifinals and, subsequently, finals. The band arrived at 6:00 am and had to perform at 7:00 am leaving minimal time for preparations. Amazed by the passion displayed by the other participants, the Cass Marching Band anxiously awaited their results. A final rehearsal was scheduled in a warm-up space later that night in which the band thought would be their last time together, but in a miraculous twist of fate, the students received their results. Despite it being their first time at Grand Nationals, these performers qualified for the semifinals and earned recognition among the other bands. Previously mentioned student, Emma Brown expressed, “It wouldn’t have been possible without all of our staff, directors, volunteers, drivers, and especially parent support.” The 2024 season was made possible through the support of many others.
The rehearsal process was lengthy, the excitement before the show was intense, and the conditions may not have been entirely in their favor. However, the Cass High School Marching Band remained enthusiastic and completed their vision of a utopia. Reaching unseen heights, 2024’s “Neon Dystopia” will forever leave a definitive impact on our school’s fine arts department.
