Once again directed by Ryan Blankenship, the SCHS Band of Pirates performed their new show titled “Take the Stage” at Edwardsville High School on Sept. 16. This year, the show includes a song called “We are Young” by alternative indie rock band FUN. 

“Our theme this year is ‘Take the Stage’ and it’s sort of based off of a rock concert,” junior color guard member Emily Johannes said. 

 Performing at a competition for the first time this season, and for some competing for the first time ever, many of the freshman members were excited to show off their instrument playing and marching skills. 

“I was very excited, but I also felt really nervous since it was my first band competition,” freshman marching band member Alizon Mota-Luis explained.

Rose Basler, another freshman marching band member, agreed with Mota-Luis. 

“I was nervous, I think that affected my performance. I was playing too low,” Basler analyzed. 

Although their performance was very loved by the crowd, the Band of Pirates unfortunately did not place the top three on the leaderboard at the competition. 

“Sadly we didn’t place in the top three. Overall we were in fourth [place],” Johannes said. 

Max Sheils, the drum major, is proud of the band’s overall performance. 

“I think we did very well. We had a lot of improvement, it was one of our best performances. It wasn’t the best, but it definitely was one of our best ones,” Sheils said. 

Blankenship believes the band has room for improvement. 

“In the future, I think we should focus on how we look visually as well as how we sound,” Blankenship said.

Drum major Max Sheils agrees that the band could work on bettering themselves.

“I think we need to work on being more into the music and playing more confidently,” Sheils said.