The SHS marching band gave a 5-star performance at last Saturday’s marching band finals competition

BY JORDYN MARTIN

SANFORD – Sanford High’s marching band and color guard competed in the Maine Band Directors Association (MEBDA) Marching Band Finals last Saturday, Oct. 25, here at Alumni Stadium. After giving a phenomenal performance of their set “Echoes of the Earth”, Sanford received the highest possible score from the judges: 5 stars in every category!

The different categories were drum major, percussion, visual, general effect, music and color guard.

There were 11 bands in attendance and the overall scores go as follows:

• Merrimack Valley- Not scored
• Lake Region- Not scored
• Biddeford-  4 stars (silver)
• Lawrence- 4 stars (silver)
• Blue Hawks- 4 stars (silver)
• Westbrook- 5 stars (gold)
• Old Orchard- 5 stars (gold)
• South Portland- 5 stars (gold)
• Wells- 4 stars (silver)
• Dover- 5 stars (gold)
• Sanford- 5 stars (gold)

When asked how he felt once the scores were announced for Sanford, Senior Clarinet player Austin Glidden said, “I thought I was doing a great job at not tearing up at all or anything [until] I heard that we got 5 stars all across the board.” Glidden then went on to say how exciting it was to be one of two bands (Sanford and Westbrook) to receive a perfect score at finals.

Other members explained how much of a relief it was to hear that the Spartans received such a high rating.

“I want the students to feel accomplished and feel good about what they’ve done. And then I think that […] them hearing that their hard work paid off is really important to them,” stated Hailey Francour, marching band director and band teacher at SHS.

Everybody involved in both the band and the color guard were extremely dedicated to putting their best selves forward, as Junior Color Guard Member Belinda Rivard put it. “We all constantly pushed ourselves toward perfection and it definitely paid off!”

Lily Gillis, a senior trumpet player in the band, added that she feels that the final performance is always the best one, since all the work and build is done by then and everybody can just relax and enjoy themselves during finals. “You can just kind of do it and feel good about it.”

Each marching band season takes an immense amount of collaboration and effort from all the students, staff and volunteers to help the band perform to their greatest potential. “I feel very lucky,” said Senior Drum Major Lydia Treadwell.

This year, Treadwell took on the responsibility of being the sole drum major, a big, but welcome change. Being able to lead and watch the growth of the band was quite a rewarding experience for her.

“I can’t help but smile, y’know? It just comes naturally,” said Treadwell. “I just feel very proud and I’m happy that I’m the one who was able to conduct that.”