In one corner, chimes rang out in melodious song; in another, drums beat loudly, competing with a clarinet’s harmonic tune. Focused on their instruments, the solemn focus was occasionally broken by giggles, filling the smile-lined rehearsal space.
“Marching band is one of the most supportive communities in our school. Both my kids felt they benefitted extremely from the experience,” Chemistry teacher Lori Singer said.
The excitement in the air at Sunday’s rehearsal was nearly palpable, though not universally so. The color guard gave mixed results, before snapping back to drills. Flags, in shades of deep purple and dreamy blues, circled wildly, before being caught snugly in the performer’s hands.
This event took place on Sept. 15 at the
“Bands by the Beach” competition, of which
East Lyme did not partake. Instead, the East
Lyme Viking Band performed in a non- judged exhibition showcase, as is traditional for games taking place on a home field. Entitled “Dreams and Nightmares,” the show will be performed continuously at all ELVB competitions, including at NYC’s MetLife Stadium. This will go on until the October state championship, where the ELVB hopes to edge out rival Fitch in performance. Competition, however, is only a small part of the ELVB tradition.
“I think, for us, the end goal is not to win; it’s really just to make music and create this community of people who have this shared love of this thing that is kind of disappearing in the world, which is like art and music and creation,” senior Drum Major Madeline Anderson said. “It’s not really a competition in the sense that everyone wants to win, but everyone does want to support each other to make everyone feel good about the product that they’re putting out.”
The dazzling performances of each band, bookended by great rounds of applause from teams, technically considered opponents, testifies to the familial bond shared between members.
“We spend a lot of time together, and there’s a lot of free time for fun,” ELVB director Justin Daly said.
Whether eating lunch, riding together, or hanging out to do homework, the marching band is rarely apart.
Uniquely positioned within ELHS’s musical opportunities, the ELVB offers a class where athletes and coaches of a sport may further their respective relationship during the school day.
“There’s no football class during the day, where you can practice football,” Mr. Daly said.
The majority of members are also band students, allowing them to continue practice after school.
“I was able to make a lot of friends who were upperclassmen, and then have people to sit with at lunch and then after the season ended. Even now I still communicate with my friends,” Anderson said.
While the registration deadline has passed, any and all prospective students are encouraged to consider ELVB.
“As a freshman, [I felt] that I wouldn’t be able to pick it out, but the community was really so fostering of that musicianship. We’re all here to help,” Anderson said.
