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It’s Okay, I’m With the Band: Inside Look Into This Years Annual Band Day Competition
It’s Okay, I’m With the Band: Inside Look Into This Years Annual Band Day Competition
Samantha Kelly
On October 18th, 2025, the annual Band Day competition took place at the Northern Arizona University dome. Several marching bands had come together from across Arizona to compete against one another in different divisions. Flagstaff High School was put into Division I, meaning they were one of the largest bands in the entire competition. While we weren’t successful in winning the “best crowd reaction” as we typically are, we were successful in winning best auxiliary and best percussion out of every band that performed. Meaning our music in our color guard were some of the best out of everyone that performed.
In an interview with Rin Bower, a junior in her third year of color guard, she spoke on just how hard they train for the big day. She described the hours they put in before and after school as brutal, but also extremely rewarding. She went on to say, “it’s always fun to show off and be proud of how hard you worked just for Band Day.”
This sentiment is echoed by multiple people involved in color guard, such as Anna Olds, a senior at Flagstaff High School who is in her fourth year of color guard. She spoke on how throughout her time with color guard, it's only grown bigger. She said, “it’s kind of cool because this year is the largest guard the school has ever seen.” As a senior, she expressed how she feels somewhat sad now that she's completed her last band day competition. “I really do enjoy guard,” she said, continuing, “I feel like I am pretty good at it and it’s sad knowing I won’t be able to do it again after this year.”
Dr. Mac and Ms. Guscott, both co-directors of the FHS band, advocated the benefits of taking band in high school. Dr. Mac said that the band provides a strong community and also is just an outlet for students to do music. When prompted with the question of what the band can do for students after graduation, Dr. Mac spoke on how over half of the seniors last year got scholarships because of their involvement. Speaking of the scholarships, Ms. Guscott chimed in by saying, “most of the time they’re major.” Proof of this is when she shared that both her and Dr. Mac ended up going to college for free.
“I’m really going to miss being part of the FHS lower brass section — it’s truly felt like a family,” is what Olivia Umphrey, a senior in her fourth year in the FHS band said about completing her final band day competition. She continued, “I’m so grateful for the memories and for the chance to march alongside such an amazing group of people these past few years.”
Even though this band competition is concluding a chapter for some, for others, it is opening a new one. In an interview with Liam Lagro, a senior in the FHS band, he spoke on how he was excited that the marching band was coming to an end. “Marching band is how we pass the time in the football season,” he stated, “but concert band is what I really enjoy.”
Concert band is where our school's musical talent can really shine. Typically concert band is a bit more serious with the genre of music typically being more classical and written specifically for bands, whereas the marching band typically plays more popular music. The band is divided into two sections which are skill based. The concert band highlights our music program specifically. They have multiple shows to look forward to, including the winter, spring, district showcase, and festival performances.