It’s raining, it’s pouring, the judges keep scoring, hats on their heads, no music read and performances far from boring.
The Rocky Mountain Marching Invitational hosts high school marching bands across Utah to perform in LaVell Edwards Stadium.
“It’s seriously an unreal feeling performing for a live stadium,” BYU drum major Emi Ferderber said.
With 22 bands competing this year in four different size divisions, the pressure is on. Band members felt pretty similar, they were nervous and excited.
“Nervous and excited, it’s kind of crazy that we’re at this big stadium and we’re usually at a high school stadium,” American Fork band member Andrea Harvey said.
Last year COVID-19 cancelled the event, this year not even the rain is stopping the schools, but it does pose a challenge.
“Performing in the rain is a little bit tough just ‘cus it’s cold and wet, but I think also just makes us extra excited to be here,” Ferderber said.
Adjudicators judge bands in six different ways ranging from music to visuals to percussion. At the end of the night judges gave out seven awards within each division including first, second and third.
“Winning is just extra validation that they have worked hard and they do deserve to be here,” Ferderber said.
BYU’s own marching band performed at the end of the night, showing high schools what a high level collegiate marching band looks like.
Parents watched and supported in the stands as temperatures dipped below 40 degrees and the rain kept pouring.
“It’s cold, but they did great,” parent Buffy Snell said.
But the awards and the experience made it all worth it. BYU’s Cougar Marching Band is performing Nov. 3 in the De Jong Concert Hall.
