This year the Pride of Paoli took the field in performance seven times, two of these being on Lucas Oil Stadium field. The band stepped off the field with a strong finish at the State Finals earning tenth place. The placement earned might not have been to members’ hopes but the Pride was still proud to stand together on the field as a top 10 finalist for the 36th time on ISSMA’s 50th anniversary of Indiana marching band state finals performances.
“I think the thing I take away most from being in the POP is just how invaluable the friendships are. There is no other group of people I would want to spend so much time around and I cherish each and every person in our band. I am also just so grateful for the life lessons the band has taught me. Band has grown my confidence, my emotional awareness, and taught me to have a really strong work ethic,” said senior Drum Major Liliann Woodsmall.
The season looked a bit different for the Pride this year with performances being moved back a week and two of their usual performance locations being cut out of their schedule. The Pride began their season on their home field on September 9. The Pride held its annual band banquet in the high school cafeteria on Thursday, November 2, where students and parents attended the award ceremony. Seniors Braeden Campbell and Lina Zheng, junior Conner Bowman and sophomore Tylor Drzewiecki were given the Outstanding Marching award. Seniors Trinity Thompson and Zheng and juniors Lainee Cox and Rylee McKenna were given the Outstanding Musician award. The Outstanding Soloist award was also given to seniors Thompson and Zheng, junior McKenna and seventh grader Ruse Nichols.
Some of the other awards given out were for the band’s respective sections. The “Most Likely to be Laughing at Rehearsal” award was given to eighth graders Bella Tate and Carleigh Porter. The “Most Likely to be the Designated Band Lawnmower Because They Won’t Leave the Grass Alone” award was given to the saxophone section.
Now that marching band season is finished for the band, concert band has started for The Pride. During concert band they will host concerts for the community to attend as well as participating in Solo and Ensemble in February.
On November 11-12 and November 18-19, members of the high school and junior high bands participated in the honor band. Honor band is put on by the Indiana Bandmasters Association and is a collection of top players from schools in a respective “Region” or “District”. Students apply in August and are recommended before being selected to participate. Many different schools are represented in these bands and show off students’ talents and their ability to play at a high level in a new group of people. All-District is for students in grades 9-12, while All-Region is for students in grades 7-9. Students selected for All-District Honor Band were seniors Daniel Adams,
Cambell, Thompson, Woodsmall and Zheng, juniors Conner Bowman, Ava Green, McKenna and Jacob Young and sophomore Drzewiecki. Students selected for All-Regional Honor Band were freshmen Nathaniel Dixon, Grace Pennington, Sylas Washington and Josh Young, eighth graders Katie Apple, Viola Bender, Kalyn Hannon, Andrea Pennington, McKayla Richardson and Shelby Walls and seventh graders Logan Burton, Marshall Fahey and Lucas Li.
The pride will be starting Indoor Percussion season. which is open to anyone interested in joining. The band also offers Pep Band. Pep Band is open to anyone who wants to join. They come to the boy’s and girl’s home basketball games, where they play stadium tunes.
