By Rodney Richey, Herald Bulletin Feature Writer
ELWOOD — Paula Simmons has been doing this for so long, she can’t remember when she started.
“How many years have I been here?” she asks someone outside her office. “I think 29. I’m not sure.”
Simmons, band director for Elwood Community High School, said she brings her experience to bear on this year’s show.
“Very nicely,” she said replied when asked how the show was coming together.
“The kids are working really, really hard. They’re having fun with it, and to me, that’s the important part of education. You want everything to be musical, but if they’re not having any fun, they’re not going to want to stick with it.”
The program, titled “Stars of Freedom,” is built around two pieces of music, as well as one really big prop.
“The two pieces we’re combining for state fair are ‘Flight of the Thunderbird’ by Richard Saucedo of Carmel, and the second piece is called ‘In Defense of Liberty,’ arranged by Jay Dawson,” she said.
And the prop? “Our entire drill is actually designed around a huge star. It’s very cool. Our drill writer did a phenomenal job.”
“I feel like we are making so much more progress than we have before,” said junior Natalie Warren. “I think we’re going to be so successful this year.”
Sharon Church, treasurer of the Elwood Band Boosters, has four kids of her own in this year’s band.
“It’s wonderful,” she said. “They really enjoy participating. Paula has a wonderful program, and it’s made them all better students. One of the best things we have here at Elwood Community High School is our band and our music program.”
As for “Stars of Freedom,” Church said the show she’d seen so far was “beautiful. It’s going to be wonderful. Very well designed.”
Warren, daughter of Theresa and Scott Warren, is drum major for the Elwood band.
“I’ve actually been in band since sixth grade,” she said. “I’ve been in the high school band all three years.”
Warren said the other band members were taking to the show well. “We have good drill, good music that fits together well and everything,” she said.
Director Simmons expressed her confidence in the band, and she knows whereof she speaks: She was in the Elwood band in 1967, when it placed fourth at Band Day.
“And that’s my big push this year,” she said. “It would be so cool for my kids to experience what I got to experience.”
Contact Rodney Richey, 640-4861, rodney.richey@heraldbulletin.com.
Band Day is Friday
Fiev madison County bands are presparing for State Fair Band Day on Friday.
The bands and their marching times on Friday are:
Anderson, 9:10 a.m.
Frankton, 11:40 a.m.
Lapel, 2:08 p.m.
Elwood, 2:56 p.m.
Highland, 4 p.m.
Final 16 competition begins at 8 p.m.
Elwood Community High School band
Director: Paula I. Simmons
Staff: Scott Jackson (assistant director), Kayla Dudley (auxiliary staff), Amy Fletcher (drill design), J. Edward Furr (show coordinator), Mat Kennedy (pit percussion), Michael Brown (battery percussion and arranging), Corby York (woodwinds and drum major)
Drum major: Natalie Warren
Show: Stars of Freedom
Repertoire: Flight of the Thunderbird, In Defense of Liberty
Members: 56
Last year's finish: 19th
