Band students flocked to Lexington High School during the week of Aug. 3, instruments in hand, as they prepared for the upcoming marching season.
After breaking into sectionals, students began learning this year's halftime show, which Head Band Director Spencer Hansen said will be unlike anything the program has performed in recent years.
Lexington’s marching band marched across the practice field for their first outdoor practice of the season on August 6th. This year’s performance is based on “Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves.”
Hansen, along with co-head directors Chad Scharff and Sarah Ernst, is leading this year's production, which is based on the 1991 film “Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves."
"We chose it because we listen to a lot of shows every year, and it caught our ear," Hansen said. "It felt like it would match our instrumentation, and we hadn't done a show like it in a long, long time."
While the Lexington band is known for incorporating theatrical elements into its performances, Hansen said "Prince of Thieves" stands out because of its brighter, more uplifting sound.
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"It does reference the actual music from the hit movie," Hansen said. "That's unique. We haven't done something like that in a long time."
Lexington head band directors Spencer Hansen and Sarah Ernst direct band practice at this year’s band camp.
During band camp, Hansen worked with the brass section, Ernst led the woodwinds and Scharff instructed the percussion section.
The band practiced marching drills on the school's practice football field because the high school's main stadium is undergoing track resurfacing.
Approximately 275 students are participating in band this year. Although about 280 students initially signed up, Hansen said some students have left while others have joined, putting the current total at around 275.
"We'll know our final numbers by the end of the first week of school," Hansen said. "We have a leadership team that we selected at the end of the previous school year. We pick about 40 students, and they're the ones we lean on for leadership."
Those student leaders worked alongside the directors during sectionals, helping teach music and marching drills while assisting the rest of the band in preparing for the season.
The woodwinds section of the band practice on the field. This year they were coached by Sarah Ernst at band camp.
Morning rehearsals will begin at 7 a.m. The first portion of the show will debut during Lexington's home football game against Holdrege on Aug. 28.
Additional segments will be added throughout the season until the performance is complete for competition.
The Minutemen are scheduled to compete in marching contests on Oct. 10, Oct. 17 and Oct. 24.
