Schools
Hamilton’s Marching Band Shines Despite Fifth-Place Finish at State
Tough competition pushes the high school band to be its best.
The marching band placed fifth in the State Marching Band Competition at University of Wisconsin-Whitewater on Saturday, but members say it was their best performance yet.
The 112 students competed in Class AAAA, which is made up of the largest high schools in the state.
“Competition is a way to help us push to be the best we can be,” said band director Jon Waite.
The competition featured 36 bands, with four bands competing against Hamilton: Chippewa Falls, Waukesha West, Waukesha North and Oak Creek.
“Marching band fosters a team atmosphere, improves students’ abilities to work together, and offers student leadership opportunities,” said Waite.
There are three drum majors in the band who conduct the music to keep the band on time, and act as student leaders.
This year’s performance featured a theme called “Spanish Passion.” Each of the three songs the band performed was choreographed to create formations on the field.
During the performance, drum majors senior Phanpanas Mora and sophomore Devin Sardter took turns acting out a story of love that is lost and found again.
The third song in the performance was called, “Tercio de Muerte,” or “Third of Death.” The title refers to the final stage of traditional bullfighting.
“During the third song, the band makes a ring and the two tuba players act like the bulls in the middle,” said senior drum major Leah Stapelman.
Even though the band finished in last place, Mora was satisfied with the performance.
“It was our best performance of the season,” he said.
The band has been practicing this music and choreography since the beginning of August, with two weeks of daily practices during the summer, and once a week after school practices in addition to class time.
Prior to the state competition, the band performed in four competitions this season, earning three first-place awards.
