Weeks of 10 hour daily rehearsals, night camp during the summer, and drilling a physically arduous set after class most days of the school week. This is just a glimpse into the demanding schedule of a marching band member. Enloe is crawling with driven, academic, and multifaceted students who lead double lives as musical extraordinaires and athletes by night.
Whether it was at a football game or a competition, if you were lucky enough to catch this year’s breathtaking show, the hard work and dedication of every member of this team would be apparent to you. The theme of the show this year was very unique, showcasing how creative expression blends with urban life. “It’s definitely going for an artsy theme, specifically regarding free expression in art,” says Enloe senior and brass captain, Elias Luna-Cezar.
Unlike past years, the show this year featured ten solos from several members of the marching band. Luna-Cezar remarked, “[Having a solo] was definitely a lot of hard work, but it ended up paying off. It was overall a great experience whenever it was time to perform since I really felt like I was connected to the audience in that moment,” he continues, “I also felt connected to the ensemble since it was evident how my performance connected with each other piece of the production.”
This competition season, the marching band participated in various local competitions such as the Compass Classic at West Johnston High School and the Festival of Bands at Fuquay-Varina High School. The band even traveled as far as Delaware to compete in the Bands of America (BOA) Mid-Atlantic Regional Championship at the University of Delaware in October.
The week following BOA involved strenuous work from the entire team in preparation for the 66th annual Cary Band Day. Held at Cary High School, numerous marching bands throughout the Southeast travel to compete for titles and celebrate the art of performance. Enloe placed first overall in their class, sweeping the competition by receiving first place in percussion, general effect, visual, and music, and second place in colorguard and drum major.
“The fact that everybody can come together from all different areas in North Carolina to appreciate performance is really great. It’s a huge celebration and I really love being able to go [to Cary Band Day] every year,” said Enloe senior and drumline captain Aathu Sutharshan.
Competition and travel foster a lifelong bond within the group. “Every single person in the band is someone to be proud of,” said Sutharshan. “Everybody has their differences, but ultimately these are people that are so committed and dedicated to putting together such a huge production.”
As competition season ends and parade season progresses, let’s look back on the weeks of hard work our marching band put in with pride, and look forward to what’s to come! Make sure to show out at the Raleigh Christmas Parade on Nov. 22 and the Apex Rotary Christmas Parade on Dec. 6 to see our Eagles march!
