The Cherry Creek High School Marching Band wrapped up a successful season with a top ten finish in the Colorado High School Marching Band Championships held Oct. 24 at Legacy Stadium.The band's last performance capped off a busy month of competitions, pep rallies and football games - including Homecoming, when
Drum Majors Dominic Caviness and
Charlotte Belshe were crowned Homecoming King and Queen!
The 92-member band spent more than 200 hours in after-school and weekend rehearsals during the last three months.They marched a lot of miles - literally!
"Our competition show has 877 counts, which means each student takes 877 steps.Each step averages 22.5 inches, so the band marches 19,732 inches, or 1,644 feet, or about one-third of a mile during each show!" said
Band Director Tim Libby.
He credits band's success to the hard work and dedication of all the students, and especially the student leadership group, including drum majors, section leaders, and color guard captains.
The leadership group has done an incredible job keeping everyone positive and motivated," said Libby. "They really run the band and have become teachers themselves."
The leadership group was selected last spring, and those students attended, at their own expense, a Leadership Camp at the University of Northern Colorado in July.
"Leadership Camp really pushes you out of your comfort zone," said Drum Major Charlotte Belshe, a senior."It gives you the skills you need to get 100 people working for the same thing."
The student leaders held sectional practices throughout the summer to help their members learn the competition show music.In August, they led conditioning drills and helped teach the mechanics of marching.Throughout the season, they came early and stayed after every practice, assessing each day's performance and what they could do to make it better.
A
nother secret to the band's success is the Band Parent Association, which has 20 different committees covering everything from food to fundraising.
"We support the band in the typical ways," said
BPA President Allison Lodovic, "but we also support them with our enthusiasm and spirit.It makes them feel special and valued."
Parent Laurene Maxwell and the water committee have filled and distributed more than 1,500 cups of water this season, and estimate that they carry 200 pounds of water to every competition."You do it for the kids," said Maxwell."You know it makes a difference."
The Bruin Band is already looking ahead to next year. The band will continue to perform at school events and competitions, and will also travel to Orlando, Florida to perform at Disney World. For more information about the CCHS Marching Band, contact Tim Libby at
tlibby@cherrycreekschools.org or Associate Band Director Sara Wynes at
swynes@cherrycreekschools.org.