Oskaloosa Marching Band Prepares “All the Lonely People” for New Season

Senior drum major Lilia Morris and junior drum major Carter Winchell gave an interview to Oskaloosa News.

New production includes a vocal solo, electric guitar, expanded movement, and a strong focus on student connections

Oskaloosa, Iowa – The marching band from Oskaloosa High School is putting together a new performance titled “All the Lonely People” and will be incorporating new musical and visual features while at the same time strengthening discipline and the bonds among the students.

On Monday, August 24, the first day of school, Senior drum major Lilia Morris and junior drum major Carter Winchell gave an interview to Oskaloosa News. They talked about band camp, the new production, the competition days, and the numerous adults who assist the band in performing.

Morris is in her third year as drum major, Winchell is in his second year, and two other students are in their first year at the post.

Ten days of camp were held by the band members in the two weeks before school began, with rehearsals starting around 8 a.m. and running until 3 p.m.

“We’ve definitely put in the hours already,” Morris said.

Building a Consistent Culture

Morris stated that one of the aims is to establish a band culture so that new students quickly realize what is expected of them; this involves maintaining discipline during rehearsals and learning to stay still when the band is in position.

Morris said that they wanted the freshmen to say, “Oh yes, that’s just the way it is.”

She stated that the students had already noticed progress since those expectations had become a regular part of the program.

“The band’s new performance, ‘All the Lonely People’, will also include features that Oskaloosa audiences have not before experienced in previous productions.”

Near the start of one of the movements, Winchell will give a vocal solo.

“This year we’re going to have a vocal solo, and that’ll be mine,” Winchell said.

He called it a brief introductory section before the movement’s main part begins.

The program will feature a solo for electric guitar in the second movement, as well as one for trombone. Morris stated that the band has strong soloists this year and is placing greater emphasis on movement and other visual aspects of the performance.

Morris stated that a modern marching band constitutes a full show production, which gives students more ways to make a performance special.

A ballet movement has been taught during warm-ups by a member of the color guard with ballet experience. According to Morris, this practice enables the students to move more accurately when on the field.

A Place to Belong

Winchell stated that the performances justify the long rehearsals.

“I think I’m in it for the performance, the applause at the end, the cheers, just the whole crowd, the smiles,” Winchell said. “It’s very powerful to me, very inspiring. Just makes me really excited and happy.”

According to Morris, the band camp also helps first-year students become accustomed to other students before they start high school; new band members get to spend time with their classmates and with the older students prior to the first day of school.

“I call it the starter pack,” Morris said. “We are the high school starter pack because you already know these kids.”

Morris and Winchell have known each other for a long time through their involvement in music; the two have been best friends since middle school, previously played tenor saxophone together, and currently serve as drum majors together.

Winchell plays baritone saxophone in both the concert band and the jazz band, while Morris keeps on playing tenor saxophone for part of the marching show before going back to the drum major’s podium.

Parents Help Make Performances Possible

The students stated that parents, teachers, and other volunteers play a significant role in the background.

Certain adults help get the equipment onto the field, while others wear uniforms, manage the plumes on the band members’ hats, or look after the sound system. Winchell referred to them as the band’s “moms and dads” and stated that more volunteers work behind the scenes than spectators notice on the field.

Morris reported that around 10 parents attended the band’s first rehearsal on a Monday and that the sound system was working earlier in the season than usual.

Students and volunteers also have to put in a full day for the band competitions. According to Winchell, the competition Saturdays usually start with a morning rehearsal at Old Community Stadium, after which the band practices the difficult sections of the performance before having breakfast, cleaning up, and then getting on the buses for the competition.

Certain trips finish late at night; Winchell stated that the band came back from Valleyfest at about 2 or 3 a.m. in an earlier season, and on Sunday the plan is to rest, drink water and keep on memorizing the music.

New Semi Will Carry Band Equipment

Here’s some big news: we now have a semi, Morris said.

The program is now also equipped with a semi for transporting its equipment.

Morris stated that the band had previously used three trailers for the competitions, which meant that they needed three drivers; the semi will enable more of that equipment to travel together.

The students are just as excited about the band’s drums with a wood-grain finish, having been added the previous year. The drums are kept covered during transport but are uncovered when the band performs in competition.

The band intends to give its first performance of the season during the Friday night Oskaloosa football game. By the time of the interview on Monday, the first two sections of the four-part program were already on the field, the third had been memorized, and the students were working on the fourth.

For Morris, the program involves more than just music, marching, or competitions; it offers students an opportunity to form friendships and to feel at home at school.

“It’s just the safe place that you go,” Morris said.