Competition season kicks off for JHS Varsity Marching Band

JOHNSTON, Ia. (Oct. 4, 2024) — When the 143 students of the Johnston High School Varsity Marching Band take the field in Cedar Rapids and Pella this weekend, their 8-minute performance will bring together months of practice that started in June and extended through the heat of the summer.

“Right now it’s all about polishing everything so it looks and sounds the best it can,” said JHS band director Jason Heeren. “That starts with the music, drill, choreography, and flag work and then goes into the utilization of our sound system, transitions on and off the field, as well as transitions between movements. It truly is a production.”

The band will compete in two invitationals a day for the next three weekends. The days are long but the reward is great. This weekend, they compete in Bands Across the Prairie in Cedar Rapids and the Pella Marching Invitational. Next weekend, it will be Valley Fest and Valley Showdown in West Des Moines. Then on Oct. 19, their season will culminate with the IHSMA State Marching Band Festival in Waukee, and the Mid-Iowa Band Championships in Ankeny.

“We are so pumped!” said JHS senior Rose Freeman, one of three drum majors. “The show this year (made up of our pieces Mirror, Urban Light, Atlas and Radiance) is phenomenal and even though performance season is just starting, it’s been so fun already with this group of amazing people.”

Several meanings of Reflections

Students mirror each other in this year’s performance, “Reflections.” Photo contributed by Melissa Folden Meiners.

This year’s performance is called “Reflections,” which takes on several meanings. The first is the act of mirroring something, portrayed with mirrors on the field and movements where students are mirroring each other. It can also mean the reflection of light, colors and sound that not only happens through mirrors, but with the color guard costumes, flags and music. The last meaning focuses on emotion and self reflection. The band has four movements or moods in the show that represent introspection, extrospection, self-reflection and optimism. 

“I love that we’re branching out and doing different things than we have in the past, moving screens that have mirrors and almost cause a fire, trying different formations and choreo, and our pre show!” said drum major Kate Ramaekers. “I think it’s all so cool and I am so excited to finish up my senior year with this show.”

Photo contributed by Melissa Folden Meiners.

While the band has performed this year’s show at home football games and at the Johnston Marching Invitational, these three upcoming weekends on the road are what they’ve been working toward. They’ll transition from performing from the energetic football crowd, to more of a concert setting with a crowd paying close attention to the visual and musical experience.

Embracing the journey

The journey hasn’t been easy. Students have had to overcome adversity over these past four months, and have gotten better each time. 

“A lot of things we perform this year have been challenging,” said drum major Lauren Rottinghaus. “For example, during our show, we have screens on the field that get moved during our last song. It’s hard to accomplish while focusing on marching, but we always end up doing it.”

“Something different this year is having a pre show,” Rottinghaus said. “This is the first year we are doing a pre show where a recording is played of our first movement and where the band has to do choreo with the recording. Even though some of these things are new or challenging, it still has been a fun year and we are ready to overcome more challenges!”

The Johnston band program has a rich history. The JHS Varsity Marching Band has taken 1st place at the Mid-Iowa Band Championships for the past three years, and won ValleyFest two years ago. Above all, directors encourage students’ growth along the way, regardless of the outcome. 

“It’s hard to live up to and maintain expectations but that’s part of competing,” Heeren said. “Every band wants to win but in the end every band just wants to do their very best because the reality of the situation is there’s only one winner. If we only worry about winning, we set ourselves up for great disappointment, but if we work to achieve a high level of performance, we will almost always be proud of our outcome.”

The 2024 JHS Varsity Marching Band. Photo contributed by Melissa Folden Meiners.