Early in June, the PCHS Marching Band lined up with 17 other bands and choirs from all over the US, including the Texas Longhorn Alumni Band and the New York Police Department Pipes and Drums, at the cemetery for American service personal at Omaha Beach, France.

 

A bright sunny day on some of the most hallowed ground accompanied the ensemble of over 1,200 people with an understanding of importance, history, and respect for fallen American veterans.

 

Over the course of a seven day trip, the band performed at two cemeteries: the historic town of Sainte-Mère-Église, and an amusement park in Paris, France. The exclusive honer offered to band members wasn’t lost on them, it was a truly life changing experience.

Now the PCHS Marching Band is taking on the Utah competition circuit.

 

In preparation for this season, a total of 210 official hours, excluding sectional and private practice time, has been spent to make their performance stand out.

 

A five day, ten hours a day, ‘boot camp’ in mid August started the ball rolling on the 2019 season that has engulfed the lives of all involved. Regular preparations involve three, two and a half hour practices a week after school and one day cleaning camps on select Saturdays (again, 10 hour endeavors).

 

The result of thiswork is relived each competition. Imagine waking up at 7:00 on a Saturday morning, going to the high school, loading yourself and an instrument onto a bus, driving two hours, unpacking the bus and a truckload of equipment, warming up for an hour, performing, packing up, attending an award ceremony, taking another two hour bus drive, then unpacking everything brought with you off a bus and the same truck of equipment you have packed, unpacked, and packed again already, then finally being able to resume your Saturday.

 

The marching band has lived this reality over the last month or so: monotony transferred with almost spastic action back to monotony.

 

For many, the entire process has been grueling. The words “tired”, “all-nighter”, and “ugh” have rarely been heard so much from band members. With a high percentage being comprised of students taking one or up to 7 honors and AP courses, the reason for their exhaustion is plain to see. But when one watches any rehearsal, the determination and grit of this conglomeration shines through brighter than any fog that may be muddling the brain.

 

The Utah marching band season is within a month of coming to a close with a final three competitions: the Davis Cup (Davis HS, Oct 26), the Mt. Timpanogos Invitational (American Fork HS, Nov 2), and the Utah Red Rocks State Marching Band Championship (St. George, Nov 8).

 

The Park City Marching Band will be attending all of these competitions and welcome any and all support from their student body.  For details visit umea.us/marching-band.