CCHS band to perform concert, jazz and symphonic Wednesday

Carroll County High School band will kick off the holiday season by performing its first concert of the school year at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 29

The event, which will be at the high school gymnasium, will include performances by the concert band, jazz band, and symphonic band.

“We’re doing a mix of a little bit more regular kinds of band music, but we’re also mixing in some holiday tunes just because we didn’t have a concert in October,” said band director Austin Marshall.

Each band will perform different kinds of songs. For example, the Jazz band will play “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch” and some other jazz music, such as “Caravan.”

“These are my really more highly motivated kids, and I’ve been kind of gauging their abilities and their skills,” Marshall noted.

The symphonic band will perform “Sleigh Ride” — a song the students asked Marshall to perform at their concert — as well as other pieces such as part of “Beethoven’s Third Symphony.”

Afterwards, the concert band and symphonic band will combine to play “Come All Ye Faithful” as the concert finale.

“I’m very confident in how I think we’ll perform and I think they will be, too,” Marshall said. “Even if it’s fresh out of break, I think that’s going to give them a good time to relax right before the concert.”

Marshall, now in his first year teaching band at Carroll, previously taught at Union County in Indiana before moving to Carrollton. He joined the Carroll County band on the students’ fourth day of band camp. Although he’s served as a band director before, he was surprised at how the Carroll students were different than the previous students he’s taught.

“There is a really, really exceptional leadership group here in this band,” he said. “I was a little nervous coming in as late as I did, but with the help of the student leadership stepping up and some of the other directors and our guard instructor helping out and helping me lean into this job, it’s been a really smooth transition.”

Because of that growing student leadership, the students are involved in a few of the decisions for the band. “A lot of the ideas for what we do and how we do things come from them,” he said. Although he does have final say on what happens in the band, he works together with the band members on ideas for songs and performances.

“Everyone in band just kind of refers to it as a family because that’s what it is to us,” Allura Lefezer, a junior and a member of the symphonic, jazz, marching, and pep bands said. “It’s turned into something really great.”

One of the things that Marshall enjoys about band is getting to see the students in a new environment. To him, band class is an opportunity to get away from strictly academic classes such as math and science. It also gives them a chance to release that stress and allow them to be in a more fun environment.

“Since we’re together all the time, you know with marching band and now into the pep band season, we’re together more than any sport would be,” Lydia Risk, a sophomore and member of the symphonic, marching, and pep bands said.

Marshall and the students are planning more concerts and performances for future years. One of those will be traveling to North Oldham High School in Goshen, Kentucky, for assessments and feedback on how well the band performs. “I’ve been getting really excited about what music we’re going to play for that,” he said.

They are also trying to set up a performance for the jazz band at a Jazz Festival on the northeast side of Indianapolis on Feb. 10, 2024, and they will also perform at Pendleton Heights High School during that festival.

Marshall is also focusing on helping the marching band to become more competitive. He said competition marching hasn’t been a priority in a few years but that’s a task he will take on for next year.