“Two years ago, we really wanted it to work and when it didn’t it gave us a jump of motivation,” senior drum major Noah Taylor said. “We weren’t expecting to make finals and when we did, we realized that we could do this, we just needed to work for it.”

Coming into this year, Taylor said that band felt different because band members knew what they were capable of. In hopes of making it to state, the band began preparing for contest earlier in the summer, and added a multi-day rehearsal called Brass Camp.

“(During Brass Camp), we spent three days learning the show music which gave us a head start,” Taylor said. “This gave us the opportunity to focus more on marching.”

Going into next week’s competition, Band Director Ginger Denney said she is confident that her band is prepared to compete at the state level.

“The band students have worked countless hours in preparation for this moment,” Denney said. “Previous years have laid the foundation for what we are able to achieve and accomplish today. To say I’m proud is an understatement. These students have blown me away with their talent, heart, and dedication.”