By: William D. Tallackson

The LaPorte Marching Band performed its show, The Eternal Flame, at the first home football game on August 18.

This is the first time the general public has seen the show. 

“It opens with a trombone solo of a medieval melody called the ‘Dies Irae,’ which was written in the 1200s as part of the Catholic funeral service. This melody has been used by many composers and can be found in many film scores. Our show is comprised of three movements - Symphonie Fantastique by Hector Berlioz, Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini by Sergei Rachmaninoff, and “Making Christmas” from The Nightmare Before Christmas by Danny Elfman,” LaPorte Marching Band Director Joe Clark said.

The marching band is practicing for its upcoming competition held at Concord High School on September 16,  under the division of ISSMA Scholastic Class A. Marching band competitions are rewarding for many because students reflect on the amount of progress they have made throughout the season. 

“My favorite part of teaching is watching students learn to do things they didn’t think they could ever do. Marching band offers so many opportunities for students to try and succeed at new things! Watching the amount of growth we achieve over the course of the season is nothing short of incredible,” Clark said. 

The marching band dedicates around seven and a half hours during the school week and multiple hours on Saturdays to work on its show. They rehearse in the “F” Street parking lot working on music, learning the drill positions and formation, and marching all while playing at the same time. Students have to juggle their academics with marching band, which can be stressful. 

“Well it is definitely harder to balance my classwork and marching band together, but I still manage to get my work in on time,” senior Esther Chairez-Munoz said. 

Throughout the season, students are able to form friendships and develop common interests with one another which transforms the band into a large family. 

“The thing I love most about being drum major is getting to connect with everybody in the band individually and feel like I get to know people really well. I get to know them personally, musically, and just in every way and just building relationships with everybody, and it's a really loving environment,” senior Drum Major Zach Kabacinski said. 

The band marched in the Michigan City and LaPorte Fourth of July parades this year and recently performed at Fox Park on August 17. They are slated to perform during pregame and halftime at the next home football game against Valparaiso on September 1.