Roll out for the Magical Mystery Tour: marching band performs groovy tribute
The band holds up a peace sign at the end of the first movement of their show.
October 8, 2014
Coinciding with the 50th anniversary of the Beatles’ coming to America in February 2014 was the idea for the 2014 marching band show, Magical Mystery Tour, a Beatles’ Tribute. The show features excerpts from the songs “Magical Mystery Tour,” “Lady Madonna,” “Eleanor Rigby,” “Blackbird,” “Yesterday,” “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” and “The End.”
Junior trumpet player Matt Watson said, “It’s a pretty neat show. It’s definitely a crowd-pleaser. It’s a more fun show to perform.”
Magical Mystery Tour has four movements. The first is a compilation of “Magical Mystery Tour” and “Lady Madonna.” The second is a version of “Eleanor Rigby.” The third movement, a combination of “Blackbird” and “Yesterday,” features a solo by senior trumpet section leader Riley Bruning. The fourth movement starts with “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” and transitions into “The End,” bringing the show to a close. The second and fourth movements both feature drum solos performed by the drumline and pit percussion, led by seniors Patrick Dougherty and Shawn Verma.
Junior and alto saxophone section leader Kyle Ferguson said that he enjoys doing a Beatles-themed show because “it’s fun to tribute a band that I’ve known since I was six. I’ve known all the songs forever.”
One of the most immersive parts of this show is the color guard, the members of which sport bell-bottom jeans and retro shirts while spinning brightly colored flags and adding in some groovy dance moves.
Freshman guard member Payton Hull said, “The uniforms are really nice because of the time period of late 60’s, psychedelic and all, so ‘hippie’ works well.”
Senior guard captain Dee Dee Dolan has a dance solo in the beginning of the show and then is joined by juniors Sydney Clark (guard co-captain), Alida Hartwell and Abbie Weinel.
To freshman Eric DeShazor, the average band competition day is pretty simple. “I just think ‘practice, lunch, leave,'” meaning leaving for the competitions. Hull elaborated, saying “We wake up. We practice. We go. We get ready. We perform… We’re tired.”
The band’s season officially began with their competition at Walkersville High School, followed by competitions at North Hagerstown High School and Liberty High School. On Saturday, the band will continue along their magical mystery tour at Musselman High School. The band earned 2nd place at Walkersville, and 1st places at both Liberty and North Hagesrtown. The band also won High Percussion and High Auxiliary at Liberty High School.
The band will also host the Frederick County Marching Band Festival, an event that brings every high school marching band in the county together, on October 13. The show is judged, but no placements are given out. Performances start at 6pm in the Linganore stadium.
Section leaders include seniors Shyla Herndon, Abi Bladen, Patrick Dougherty, Shawn Verma, Dee Dee Dolan, Riley Bruning, Allison DeBlois, and Colton Merwin; juniors Izzy Cortez, Rachael Buker, Kyle Ferguson, and Sydney Clark; and sophomore Harrison King. Drum Majors are senior Julia Peigh and junior Noah Ismael.
The show is under the direction of Mr. Kevin Lloyd, assisted by Mr. Damon Dye and Mr. Jeremy Brown. They are helped by Ms. Kara Boehne and Mrs. Amy DelAguila. The color guard is run by Will Hernandez and Linganore alumna Emma Burke.
