The Marching Highlanders culminated a week-long celebration of their eighth Indiana State Fair Band Day title with an encore performance of their championship-winning “Scots and Soda” program at a loudly supportive assembly Friday.
The assembly included the presentation of a special proclamation from the City of Anderson and expressions of pride from ACS administrators. It was also an opportunity for band members to reflect on the hard work and dedication leading up to a pivotal moment after the preliminary round on Aug. 1.
“I talked to the kids about, ‘This is a competition. The competitive part is exciting, fun. You have to make sure that you keep your head on. You take this high energy, highly entertaining show and sell it to the crowd,’” recalled director Richard Geisler.
Geisler’s pep talk, along with the band’s competitive attitude, led to a show-stopping performance in the finals that left the audience and at least one judge awestruck.
“Anderson Highlanders, whew!” the judge said in his post-performance comments. “You came to throw it down, and throw it down you did indeed. What a great, mature performance.”
The band performed a standstill rendition of “Scots and Soda” to the delight of those in attendance, who clapped and cheered at each key moment of the show.
Geisler encouraged the students in the room to choose and commit to an activity, whether it be band or a sport, adding that doing so can help make their high school years the best they can be.
ACS Superintendent Joe Cronk said he was incredibly proud of the Marching Highlanders.
Cronk, a former band member, praised the band’s hard work and dedication, knowing full well what it takes.
“If you’ve not been in marching band, you don’t know the amount of work that goes into this,” he said. “This is hard work. They have to start at the beginning of the summer, and they’ve got six weeks to put a show together. It’s a lot of hard work. They make me so proud. They did outstanding.”