It began in July, under a glaring, summer sun. It will end Saturday under the closed roof and controlled conditions of Lucas Oil Stadium.
Hundreds of hours of preparation will come down to one last eight-minute performance for four local high school marching bands.
“There’s a lot,” Concord band director Gay Burton said, “packed into those eight minutes.”
The Concord, Goshen, Fairfield and Northridge marching bands will all compete in the Indiana State School Music Association Marching Band State finals Saturday in Indianapolis.
Concord and Northridge will compete in Class B, Fairfield in Class C and Goshen in Class A. There are 10 bands competing in each of the four classes.
Concord
Concord has competed in 25 of the past 26 state marching band finals, including nine straight. The Marching Minutemen are seeking their fourth state title. Previous titles came in 1992, 2003 and 2005. They finished seventh last year.
Concord’s show, “Paris Sketches,” features contemporary compositions “April in Paris,” “American in Paris” and “Paris Sketches.”
Concord has run one of the most successful marching programs in the state. It has only missed one state final (2000) since first qualifying in 1983. In addition to its three titles, Concord has finished second five times and third three times.
“We look at it as a business trip and try to keep it business as usual,” Burton said. “They’re all so excited, but have to stay focused and be up to task. That’s tough to do.”
It is only the second year the finals have been at Lucas Oil Stadium. Previously the finals were held at the former RCA Dome.
“The sound at Lucus Oil (Stadium) is unique because of its size,” Burton said. “They just have to trust what they’ve done all year long.”
Fairfield
This is the first trip back to the state finals for Fairfield since 2006 and the first since being moved from Class D to Class C last season.
Last year Fairfield band members showed they were up to the challenge of a higher class by qualifying for semi-state. This year they did themselves one better.
Fairfield’s show is “I Am” and explores identity with “Who Are You” and “I am.” Props include fingerprints, bar codes and question marks.”
Before moving up to Class C, Fairfield was a traditional power in Class D. The band made 12 appearances in the Class D finals since 1990, finishing as high as third in 1993.
Northridge
This is the fourth consecutive appearance in the state finals for Northridge and fifth since 2004. Northridge finished 10th both last year and in 2006, ninth in 2007 and seventh in 2004.
The band’s show is “Candimonium” and includes the compositions “Candide,” “The Oompa Loompa Dance” and “Candy Mountain.”
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