Multiple students, past and present, continue to represent Perry throughout not only the state but also the country with their musical abilities. Aside from many past alumni being acknowledged for their participation in the Drum Corps International World Championships, three out of ten students picked from Arizona for the All American Bowl in Jan.2017 currently attend Perry. Tatiana Kapos, Brandon Hermreck and Marianne Cayer were chosen out of 125 total students nationwide.

Band Director Brandon Kiesgan said that all his students “rehearse a total of seven hours a week” and that prepping for a performance is “very intricate, it’s really complicated, complex..” However, as the students have shown, they’re ready for the challenge.

Since the All American is not until next year, the selected few have some time to get ready. However during normal season, they would not even start rehearsing until around Dec. or Jan. Kiesgan said “they rehearse..a few weekends during the month then about May, after Memorial Day, is when they go on tour.”

In preparation for regular season, Kiesgan thinks that “we’re in a better place right now; like time wise… we’re on track to be more successful, I think, than last year.”

Last year band was only three places away from being in the top ten and going to state. Being in division one means high expectations and Kiesgan said placing in state will be “an exciting accomplishment.” Competitions do not start until around fall break, but with all of their rehearsals during summer, they have time to focus on preparing for the future.

Marching band and colorguard’s first performance was before the first home game on Aug. 19. Senior Tatiana Kapos said that with preparation for All American and football games, “the most difficult part is definitely the time commitment…”

Outside of school, Kapos is already getting ready for the competition by “working as hard as I can for our school…working out, and practicing tosses. We [the USAAAMB colorguard team] have a group chat which is really great because we’re learning about each other and becoming friends which will help being in sync for the show.”

Senior Brandon Hermreck said that to prepare he will be, “looking [the music sheets] over and doing my practices a hundred times over.”

The All American Marching Band will stop by Perry during the fall and then fly the selected members out in Jan. for the USAAAMB Bowl. According to their website, “During bowl week, the band members receive instruction from top collegiate… and drum/bugle corps instructors from across the country as well as educational sessions with members of the U.S. Army Field Band.”

Marianne Cayer said that she is most excited to, “meet all the people and do the show with them because it’s all the best of the best.”

Throughout the year, marching band and colorguard will continue to show off Perry’s nationally recognized talent in football games and assemblies and give us something to toot our horns about.