By: Nancy Tan <[email protected]>

Senior Rachel Hill, who has played the euphonium in the marching band for four years, said that she is excited for the competition season to start.

Michael Pote, associate director of bands, said the Marching Greyhounds will participate in the ISSMA district championship competition this Saturday. The marching band’s return to the state-run competition breaks a two-year hiatus.

“We’re going back to the state-run competitions to change the schedule a little bit,” Pote said.

Hill offered a different explanation. “We stopped going to ISSMA because we did not agree with the judging panel,” she said. “But we’re going (to ISSMA) this year because there are credible judges on the panel. It’s more of a challenge now.”

According to Pote, the theme for marching band this year is boundaries. The show, featuring original music by Richard Saucedo, tries to create different ways to portray the concept of breaking through boundaries on the field.

Hill said that the show consists of three movements. The first movement is called “Dreams,” the second is called “Obstacles” and the third movement is named “No Boundaries.”

Pote said that marching band members practice everyday for about two hours a day in order to prepare. According to Hill, the members spend the practice hours solidifying their foundations.

“We just prepare like any other competition,” she said. “We just strive to do our best.”