PARKERSBURG, W.Va. (WTAP) – The Parkersburg High School Marching Band consists of 41 members this year and participates in band competitions and halftime shows.

Dan White, band director at Parkersburg High School, said it’s different each year depending on how many students come.

“In the summer months, you wait for the big surprise to see what you’re going to get,” White said. “You can pre-select your music and things like that, but wait to see what you get and what instrumentation you have.”

During the halftime show, the band included some classical music as well as some modern hits.

“I chose music that spans 100 years of this group, like the New World Symphony and Sousa March,” White added. “And also a percussion feature from Country Roads and our former percussion director, Chet Baccus, who has been on our drum line for many years. He made Turkey in Straw.

Some of the group’s members said it was a tight-knit group for whom the group was a way to make new friends.

“It’s really fun,” junior Sam Bailey said. “I made a lot of friends that way.”

“Most of the time I just play,” junior Ella Walsh said. “I focus on one thing or another until I get both solid.”

Cade Justice, the band’s drum major, added that the transition into the new drum major role has been enjoyable so far.

“Part of it is that I’m not in the field,” Justice said, “I’m watching all the photos come together, and it’s really cool to see all the work we put in come together in one beautiful photo. to show.”

White concluded by saying that the crowds at his performances so far have really enjoyed the shows.

“The crowd loves the music,” White said. “We’ve been to a few games where we couldn’t play, but that’s because of homecoming. We play music in the stands whenever we can, but so far everyone seems to enjoy the show.”

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