As the final competition for the EPGHS band at Western Illinois University came to a close, so did the marching band season, ending with six total trophies collected by the mesmerizing sights and sounds of Coloration! Yet, they mark time and march forward into concert band season and its stage with a 5, 6, 7, 8!
How did they earn these wins? Director Ms. Wierenga believes this year’s show was the most memorable and rewarding that the band has ever had, and watching her students bring Coloration to life was entirely thrilling to her. “They grew not only as musicians and performers but as a family—constantly supporting, encouraging, and lifting one another up,” she remarked. “I’m incredibly proud of how they embraced feedback, persevered through challenges, and poured their hearts into every performance.” The band brought lots of success on and off the field for the season, ending with a Grand Championship award for the first time in EPG band history at Rich Township in East Chicago. The band won first in every category, from visuals to Color Guard! The night ended with an escort into El Paso with Gridley’s and El Paso’s Fire Departments. In total, three first-place trophies were won, following two best Color Guard trophies overall, and first place in visual for all but one competition.
As concert band season begins, Ms. Wierenga has one main goal: musicianship—refining tone quality, blend, and precision. She plans to add a little extra challenge since they don’t have to focus on visuals to march, and they’ll have more time to visualize the music instead. “It’s always exciting to explore a variety of styles and return to the fundamentals that strengthen our ensemble after marching season.” She mentioned, alongside the excitement of variety, that she has quite a few pieces that she’s absolutely ecstatic to begin to play, and she is ready for others to hear the band at the first concert on December 9th!
With a plan in mind for the next season’s marching band show, she wants to continue to build upon this year’s energy, creativity, and excellence. She plans to make next season more challenging to test the students’ growth and highlight their strengths. She’s incredibly grateful for all the support she got throughout this year. She adored every single one of the performances of the season and said they were all special in their own way. Yet, she had one she loved the most of all: Western Illinois University. Not because they won, no. It was the attitude of all the students: the bright smiles, the exciting atmosphere on and off the field, and everything just clicked for everyone at that moment on the field. “I told them to leave everything on the field–enjoy performing together for one final time, have lots of fun, and walk off the field with no regrets… and they did exactly that.”
