October 15, 2003
School bands show off steps at exhibition
Thirlby Marching Band Exhibit features nearly 3,000 musicians
By Carol South
Herald contributing writer
With plumes bristling, brass gleaming and flags swirling, the Thirlby Marching Band Exhibition celebrated the pageantry of marching bands Monday evening.
With nearly 3,000 band members, family members and fans packing the stands, each band performed three numbers - strutting their best half-time show for this educated audience. Before their warm up and after their performance, most band members hit the stands, sitting with their friends to watch what everyone else did.
A non-competitive event, the annual exhibition has provided a feast of ideas, music and moves for the past 20 years.
"I like getting to watch the other bands," said Jeff Mullen, an 11th grade student at Traverse City Central High School and a baritone player in the marching band. "You're not really nervous before your performance, just thinking about the show."
The event drew 1,300 students in marching bands from 21 schools in the region, from Mancelona to St. Ignace, Grayling to Frankfort. Band sizes varied widely as the program marched from the smallest, Frankfort at just over two dozen, to the largest, Petoskey High School's Marching Northmen at 221.
Traverse City West High School hosted the Thirlby Marching Band Exhibition, with band director Pat Brumbaugh at the helm. The Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association sanctioned the event and also sent an adjudicator who provided each band with written comments on their performance.
John Campbell, director of bands at Central High School, said much of the fun is checking out the creativity and shows of the other schools. Many bands pull together complicated themes, coordinating accessories, music and moves around a central idea.
This year's themes ranged from Oscar-winning movie theme songs and the Blues Brothers to a jazz lesson and disco era tunes. Tango steps by the Elk Rapids Marching Band and garbage can drumming by St. Francis High School band were some unique ideas.
"The best thing is we get a chance to see all the other groups perform," Campbell noted. "It is nice to do that because you get a lot of new ideas."
"You get psyched up just to hear the other bands," he added.
Petoskey High School's band is also a competitive marching band, traveling to three competitions in the Grand Rapids area to pit their act against other schools. One thing band members like about the Thirlby Exhibition is that everyone is cheering for everyone else.
"This is more relaxed and we don't have to be so stressed," said Molly Preston, a senior at the school and a clarinet player. "At competitions you're all trying to beat each other."
"We don't usually get to see many northern Michigan bands so this is fun," she noted. "You can cheer for the other teams."
Coordinating the Thirlby Exhibition's program each year requires three dozen parent volunteers plus a number of student helpers from West High School. Sorting out buses, equipment, trailers and marchers, getting everyone and everything in the right place at the right time, takes planning and organization. After the show, these volunteers also clean up the stands before calling it a night.
Robert DeGabriele headed up the volunteer effort for the second year. With a son in the band as a junior and a daughter three years behind, he figures he is two years into a six-year hitch.
The parents are key to putting on an event of this size and scope, DeGabriele said.
"With sports, they have their groups of coaches, but here there's the coach and an assistant coach for 120 kids in West's band," he said. "Everyone I called to help said, 'Yes,' unless they were already signed up."