NORTH DAVIESS BANDS REPRESENTED

IN INDIANAPOLIS

 On August 12 and 13, seven middle school band students represented North Daviess Jr./Sr. High School at an event known as “INPact Band – Indiana’s Future Band”. Drum Corps International sponsors this event and it is a middle school ensemble featuring students from across the state of Indiana. During the weekend, students have the opportunity to perform as a part of DCI World Championship weekend held annually in Indianapolis, Indiana at Lucas Oil Stadium. This year was the eighth year for the INPact Band event which has been held annually since 2013 with a couple of years off due to the COVID pandemic.

 The program is designed to motivate middle school students to consider the arts as they make important skills development decisions for their high school years and beyond which directly impact lifelong behaviors such as teamwork, dependability, perseverance, and commitment.

 In order to be a part of the band, students are nominated by their band directors based on talent, effort, and leadership criteria. To complete the nomination, students fill out an application in the spring and submit the application for review.  This year, there were close to 1000 applications sent in and 505 students were chosen to be a part of the ensemble. During the weekend, musical instruction is provided by middle school band directors serving on a volunteer basis leading small groups and assisting the mass ensemble. This year’s guest conductor was Dr. Jon Noworyta, Assistant Professor of Music and Director of Bands, Instrumental Activities, and Outreach at the University of Indianapolis.

 The students had a couple of performance opportunities during the weekend – one at Monument Circle Friday night and another performance which concluded the event Saturday evening when the students performed on the field of Lucas Oil Stadium in front of 12,000 spectators prior to Finals of the DCI World Championship, a 3 day competitive event of DCI’s Marching Music’s Major League.

 Representing North Daviess this year was: 7th grader Delilah Burton – Trombone, daughter of Chad and Meagan Burton; Shannon Graber – Percussion, daughter of David and Edna Graber; Sarah Mumma – Percussion, daughter of Brad and Andrea Mumma; Brice Murdock – Colorguard, son of Johnny and Lindsey Murdock; Owen Stuckey – Alto Saxophone, son of Tony Stuckey and Angie Taylor; Rocky Thompson – Tenor Saxophone, son of Matt and Timi Jo Thompson; and Wyatt Vaughn – trumpet, son of Jason Vaughn and Sara Vaughn