WHS Proud Sound ends a successful marching season

Published by admin on Thu, 11/08/2018 - 11:44am

The Proud Sound band members and colorguard had a new routine to go with new uniforms this year. All the hard work of students was on display on the blue turf at Boise State University as the marching band performed during District III marching band competition on Oct. 27. Weiser was one of 25 marching bands from schools of all sizes around the Treasure Valley that competed at the annual Mel Shelton DIII Marching Festival. Among the many awards the Weiser High School band earned at the competition was the first place overall in the 3A division. Photo by Sarah Imada
Weiser High School’s Proud Sound marching band and auxiliary colorguard finished off a successful marching season with a sweep of the District III marching band competition on Saturday, Oct. 27.
 The annual Mel Shelton DIII Marching Festival is not only the culminating event of the marching season, it is the biggest and therefore the most prestigious win of the season for the Proud Sound. 
 It is a big event with 25 marching bands from around the valley in all different sizes competing to be the top in their divisions. 
 Each year the bands look forward to showing how their season hard work paid off in their final show on the famous blue turf at Boise State University.  
 Weiser impressed the audience and the five judges with their “Avengers” themed show, winning Best Music, Best General Effects, Best Percussion and first place overall in the 3A Division. 
 The festival is named in memory of Melvin L. Shelton, Boise State University professor emeritus and director of bands, who retired in 1991. One award is actually named after the man – the Mel Shelton overall best music performance – which went to Timberline High School, along with the sweepstakes award this year.
 The Proud Sound’s 44 instrumentalists and 10 color guard members are directed by Jake Fortin, with Mimi Rodriguez leading the color guard. 
 The band was also led by one drum major, Katie Shepherd. Fortin said that Shepherd has done an exceptional job. The position of drum major is a difficult one and she stepped up to the challenge, conducting the show, making sure that all of the equipment is where it needs to be, and helping to keep the band focused to perform their best.  
 “I’m really proud of the group overall. We had a young band this year.  Winning DIII shows us that there are bright things on the horizon for the rest of this year, as well as future years,” Fortin said. 
 This year’s show, “Assemble,” is based on some of the recent Marvel superhero movies (namely The Avengers, Captain America: The First Avenger, and Guardians of the Galaxy).  The music is a lot of fun, and the kids embraced the superhero theme.
 Their four tunes were “A Promise” from The Avengers, “Captain America March” from Captain America: The First Avenger, “To The Stars” from Guardians of the Galaxy, and The Avengers Main Theme.  
 Along with D3, the band competed in three other competitions in Caldwell, Parma, and Ridgevue. Although they won awards at each, including the “Keeping Music Alive” award in Parma, and first in their division at Ridgevue, the goal is always to improve throughout the season and take the final trophy at D3. 

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