Published: November 02, 2009 06:10 pm      

Bands’ work pays off big

THE ISSUE: Saturday’s marching band state finals

OUR VIEW: Western, Lewis Cass and Eastern deserve every accolade.

Most started back in July, learning the music and practicing formations in hopes of earning a trip to the Indiana State School Music Association marching band finals.

Some practiced twice a day in the heat of summer, not unlike their schools’ football teams.

For the Western, Lewis Cass and Eastern marching bands, all of the effort – the many fundraisers, the solo work at home, the practices with others in their section – paid off Saturday. Western added a 10th state marching band title to its trophy case, winning Class C with its program, “Name That Tune.” Cass, in its 28th straight appearance in the state finals, won Class D and the school’s sixth championship with “An Unending Legacy.”

And Eastern band director Joel Matthews said the Comet club put together its best performance of the year Saturday to place 10th in Class D.

Western’s “Name That Tune” was a hit with judges and fans every week during band season. The Panthers won first places and multiple caption awards at each of its competitions. As complicated as its formations, they paled in comparison to its music.

“Name That Tune” included different spins on 13 famous songs, from Mozart to Gershwin.

“We had a very convincing win,” Western director Brian Caldwell said Saturday. “I was very pleased with the show. ... They just had the best show of the season.”

Congratulations, Western, Cass and Eastern.

And kudos to Lewis Cass and Western, in particular. Cass has finished first, first, second, first over a four-year span. Western has placed second, first, first the last three years.