Cougar band ready for 1st football game

VWCS information

School may not start for another 17 days but the students and staff of the Van Wert High School “Cougar Pride” Marching Band are ready for the season to begin this evening in Eggerss Stadium.

The high school band traveled to Oglebay Park in Wheeling, W.Va., for band camp in late July and has spent time at VWHS since then in earnest preparations for the season. The band has spent almost 50 hours of rehearsal time over the last five weeks. If added up in normal high school “class periods” that would be over 13 weeks worth of class time.

The band has some extra challenges this year. The late start of the school year, three early season home games, the Van Wert County Fair Band Show, and three football games all before the first day of school are adding up to a hectic few weeks

Despite these challenges the marching band has a great series of shows to present the Cougar crowd. This year’s season of shows is entitled “Just Because We Are”. Each show represents one aspect of the band program. Show 1 will be featured at the first game and is entitled “Because We Are The Cougar Pride.” This show will feature different aspects of a Friday night with the marching band, including “Pregame”, “Halftime” and “Bleacher Music”.

Show 2 will be featured at the second home game and is entitled “Because We Are A Band Family” and explores the journey a marching band takes from band camp to performance. Highlighted music for Show 2 is “Ride”, “Over the Rainbow”, “Somewhere” from West Side Story, and “Asphalt Cocktail.”

For Homecoming the band will present Show 3 and welcome the Eighth Grade Band for the halftime performance. Featured music for Show 3 will be “Somebody That I Used to Know” by Gotye and “Some Nights” by Fun.

The final show of the year will be a very special version of the traditional “Senior Show”. The Van Wert Band will combine with the St. Marys All Brass Band and the Rodney Mack Philadelphia Big Brass Band for two pieces and then feature its senior members in their last halftime show with a selection from their freshman year.

The Rodney Mack Philadelphia Big Brass Band will perform at the Niswonger Performing Arts Center the following evening.

The high school band is off to the start of another wonderful year thanks to hard working students, wonderfully supportive parents and a glorious history of excellence. We hope that you find time to enjoy the performances of these hard working fine musicians.

For more information contact the Music Office at 419.238.3722 or visit the band website at www.vanwertbands.org, or “like” them on Facebook at Van Wert Bands Information.