Midland Marching Band Showcase Is Inspirational

Annual Event is Culmination of High School Football Season's Hard Work

October 12, 2008
By: John Keuvelaar

It was Cool and Crisp at the Midland Stadium Wednesday night. We aren't talking about the weather. Cool and Crisp were the sounds filling the air as fourteen area high school bands descended into Midland for the annual Midland Showcase of marching bands.

The Midland Showcase is an annual event capping off the school football season. Each school presents their half time performance for neighboring schools to watch and enjoy. This is not a competition where a winner is crowned. It is a celebration of a Summer and Fall's hard work. One of the unique features that make this event so special is the appreciation that each school and the participants have for each other.

Meridian Mustangs' usual fine performance.
(MyBayCity Photo by John Keuvelaar)

Trumpet soloist to a sea of blue .
(MyBayCity Photo by John Keuvelaar)

Garber's Time Warp "Rocky'd" the house.
(MyBayCity Photo by John Keuvelaar)

Men, always treat your woman right.
(MyBayCity Photo by John Keuvelaar)

All the bands sit in the home stands and watch each other's performance until it is there turn to perform. Parents get to stand behind them or squeeze in spots vacated by a performing band. Students cheer and genuinely applaud each other and when a band does something extraordinary, they let them know it. There is no "we are better than them" attitude at this event. Each band truly inspires the other to perform at their best. For those who have not enjoyed an area football game and its half time show (shame on you), gone are the days of military marching to a set spot, play some traditional tunes, and march off. These are featured performances that rival many colleges with intricate formations and movements.

There are solos, dancers, weaving in and out, all with exact precisions. There is music from Styx, The Who, The Blues Brothers and of course, the Beatles . . . All played with various interpretations and with true concert quality. It is obvious that the kids enjoy this level of performance as each year the band's size gets bigger and bigger.

An incredible drum performance to the song Mambo.
(MyBayCity Photo by John Keuvelaar)

Everyone "Bands" Together.
(MyBayCity Photo by John Keuvelaar)

Owosso energized the crowd.
(MyBayCity Photo by John Keuvelaar)

H.H. Dow 200 strong.
(MyBayCity Photo by John Keuvelaar)

Midland Dow's choir and soloist with the band accompanying were outstanding.
(MyBayCity Photo by John Keuvelaar)

The H. H. Dow marching band sports over 200 members, having to practice in three individual groups -- every Wednesday night they bring all three together. There band stretched from end zone to end zone. Garber's band now has over 150 members which is greater than a quarter of the school attendance.

The event begins at 4:00 pm and bands perform at 15 minute intervals. Essexville Garber exploded onto the field from the far end zone, always a band to perform outside the box. They stirred up the crowd with the "Time Warp" dance from the Rocky Horror Picture Show. This was followed by a dancer doing a piece from the movie Chicago and finished off with a circular percussion exhibition to the tune "Mambo" from West Side Story.

Garber's standing ovation performance was followed by an equally impressive performances by Bay City Central High School and Western High School.

Oscoda added high energy to its wonderful music. H. H. Dow kept the performances at peak level with their complex movements and a special feature of their choir with a soloist. Midland High kept the crowd buzzing when they finished off their performance by sending band members into the crowd to lead everyone in clapping to the beat of "Hey Jude."



The night was not over. After all the tremendous high school performances, everyone was treated to the Central Michigan University Marching Chips. The CMU band took the parents in the crowd down memory lane with songs from such shows like Get Smart, Perry Mason and yes, Underdog. The CMU Chips band ran the gambit with music from James Bond, Austin Powers and good old Andy Griffith.

The Wednesday night Midland Showcase was a night of pure enjoyment of music and motion. It is a night to look forward to.

What will each band do next year.?

Midland High had the right formula.
(MyBayCity Photo by John Keuvelaar)

He had good reason to toot his own horn.
(MyBayCity Photo by John Keuvelaar)

The Marching Chips really finished off the night right.
(MyBayCity Photo by John Keuvelaar)

The pageantry was breathtaking.
(MyBayCity Photo by John Keuvelaar)

The Marching Chips showed it still is fun even in college.
(MyBayCity Photo by John Keuvelaar)

And the beat goes on.
(MyBayCity Photo by John Keuvelaar)