Published: October 30, 2009 10:09 am      

GHS band shoots for the stars

After a year hiatus, Goshen High School’s marching band is back to a somewhat familiar spot: The finals of the state marching band competition in Indianapolis.

But, there have been some changes since Goshen’s last trip in 2007.

This time around the band will be performing in class A, where it will be joining nine other of the biggest high school bands in the state.

“I’m a little nervous, but at the same time it’s really exciting to be the first freshman class to make it at class A,” said freshman alto saxophonist Lauren Detweiler.

For the freshman and sophomore classes, the state finals mark uncharted territory. But the upperclassmen have some experience performing at this level. However, since they are now competing in Class A, the entire group has had to step up their performances.

“It’s a lot more complex of a show this year, especially for the low brass section,” said senior baritone player Max Johnson, who competed two years ago as a sophomore. “The underclassmen are picking up the show real well.”

Another change from two years ago is the venue. Since the RCA Dome is no more, the state competition is now being held at Lucas Oil Stadium. None of the band members have performed there. The band has yet to perform indoors this season so the acoustics of the facility, which can seat up to 70,000, are something that they are unable to mimic.

“The sound will just hang and there will be a lot of reverberation,” explained drum major Nate Goodwin. “It’s our job to just focus on keeping exact time.”

Goodwin is one of three drum majors. The others are Erica Badowski and Alex Detweiler.

“We put a lot of trust in each other,” Goodwin said.

The show is called “Constellations” and has an outer space feel to it. The show features an EWI — Electric Wind Instrument — that provides a cosmic sound and formations will simulate the Big Dipper. All the band members said that rehearsal has been going well this week and has been getting progressively better throughout the season, just in time for what they hope will be the big payoff.

“Practices have been a little more passionate,” Detweiler said, “and we are working a lot harder, but we are trying to keep the same routine.”

This year’s edition of the Goshen High School marching band has 155 members but only 19 seniors. So leadership has been a critical element to their success so far.

“I don’t think the seniors are nervous as much as the underclassmen are nervous for us,” Johnson said. “We just want to go out there and kick butt.”