On Saturday, January 20, the Pride of Paoli Pep Band attended the annual Pep Band Invitational at Orleans High School. Many schools attended the event to show off their school spirit by playing their favorite pep tunes and performing their respective school songs.
The Pride showed as much school spirit as possible, with Band Director Christian Karkosky even allowing students to paint his head purple and gold for the second year. The Pride performed the School Song and six pep tunes; Bang! by AJR, 25 or 6 to 4, Handclap, Shout! by The Isley Brothers, Bad Romance by Lady Gaga, and Holiday by Greenday. Many pep band members dressed in costumes and painted their hair and faces to add to the overall spirit.
Karkosky feels the band was successful at the invitational.
“I thought it was a very successful day for the band and for our school. And not necessarily because we brought home trophies and awards but because we had fun making music and using our skills to bring joy and make people smile!” said Karkosky.
The Pride took home Blazing Brass, Whacky Woodwinds, and First Place for Class AA. They also received the People’s Choice Award, and senior Trinity Thompson won the $50 Senior Scholarship.
“I was surprised to hear my name get called, but overall I’m incredibly grateful for the sum the Orleans band gave me,” said Thompson.
Senior Braeden Campbell will miss being in pep band.
“My favorite song in pep band would be Roxbury Nights. I enjoy it so much because it’s high in the register and is fun to do the choreography. My favorite thing about pep band is blasting on the trombone and I’ll miss seeing all of my underclassmen figure out how to play the music,” said Campbell.
Other schools attending the invitational were Crawford County, North White, Borden, and Perry Central in class A. Silver Creek and Paoli are in Class AA, and Speedway, Austin, and Forest Park are in Class AAA. As host, the Orleans Pep Band did not compete in the contest.
