The marching band will kick off their season this Friday night at the first home football game of the year against Liberty. The band will march at the annual pre-game show and reappear at halftime. This year’s show is called “Cirque du Soleil,” featuring music from various Cirque du Soleil shows, including La Nouba, KA, and Quindam. The songs to be performed are called “Distorted,” “KA: Flight,” “Urban,” and “Incantation.”

The band has been preparing for this season since the end of the previous school year. This music is rehearsed for the last few weeks of school, then rehearsed intensely during band camp, which is led by directors and drum majors Janie Owens ‘25, Adam Schaefer ‘25, and Poi Borchardt ‘26, where the members of the band are taught pre-game and the drill opener. 

“I am super excited! The first show of the year is always super exciting. I love the atmosphere and getting ready to perform at football games. It is such a cool moment to see so much hard work come together,” drum major Janie Owens said. 

This year the marching band consists of all grades, Freshmen are marching in the halftime show along with the upperclassmen for the very first time. 

“There are lots of new people learning a lot of new things, but everyone has been doing an amazing job, and I’m super excited and proud of the work that the underclassmen have put in,” Owens said.

Besides the intense heat during the first week of school, the season has been off to a great start; this year was the fastest that the marching band has learned a show in the history of City High.  

“Students are working so hard and so well together; we also have a great team of leaders on our band leadership team,” said band director Mike Kowbel.

“I’m extremely excited for Friday’s performance. The band has worked very hard to bring it all together this year,” said drum major Adam Schaefer.