By Renee Larr
On Sept. 10, Fishers High School hosted the fifth annual Honda of Fishers Invitational. The event allows high school marching bands across the state to show off their routines for judges prior to their season starting.
“We had a lot of area bands coming out. It was a really unique opportunity to kick off the marching band season and have some really good judges critique the bands’ performances early on in the season so the bands can make their changes now,” said Brian Brosmer, public relations manager for Fishers Marching Band.
The invitational is the largest fundraising opportunity for the FMB. Admission was $8, and more than 6,000 locals showed up to watch the event.
“Indiana is really a hotbed of marching bands. This is one of the very first events of the season in the area.,” Brosmer said.
Eighteen schools participated in four different classes of bands. Each band is classified by numbers of members. Ten judges critiqued each band’s performance focusing on the music and visual performance.
“The adjudication system used was that from Music for All’s National evaluation system. This system is used for all Bands of America Regional and Grand National Championships,” FHS Director of Athletic Bands Chad Kohler said. “Bands are evaluated in the areas of Music Individual, Music Ensemble, Visual Individual, Visual Ensemble, Music General Effect and Visual General Effect.”
Marching bands have worked to create more of a show instead of just a musical performance.
“Now kids are dealing with props. Kids are building different music routines. They’re doing different body motions that are just incredible. They’re really becoming shows,” Brosmer said. “They’re more halftime shows. They get better every year. There are artistic elements there that are just amazing. It’s not just playing music. They’re high school kids, and the stuff they’re doing is just amazing.”
For more, visit fishersband.org.
