St. Vrain Band Night Oct. 4 in Longmont

High school marching bands from all the St. Vrain Valley District high schools will come together Wednesday, Oct. 4, not to compete against each other, but to showcase their 2023 field shows in support of everyone's dedication to the art form.

This annual event is considered to be the highlight of the marching band season by students, staff, family, and friends. Unlike many other opportunities where high school marching bands perform, this performance is entirely dedicated to audience members who are present solely for the marching band, without worrying about a football game or competition score. It's just fun.

The event will showcase marching bands from Erie, Frederick, Longmont, Lyons, Niwot, Mead, Silver Creek, and Skyline as well as the Unified Drumline ensemble. Performances will include selections from Star Wars (Niwot), The Beatles (Silver Creek), and 2000s punk music (Erie).

"(St. Vrain) Band Night is special because it's one of the few events [bands] participate in that is all about the bands," said Abby Koehler who has been Director of Bands at Mead High School for the past five years. "So often the bands are serving the community and other student organizations... but Band Night is all about the bands and all about band students supporting each other."

Kyanne Johnston, Senior Drum Major at Mead High School, shares that mindset, as do many members of marching bands. "My favorite part of Band Night is watching all of the other bands play and showing them our show as well," she said. The only other opportunity St. Vrain band students have to interact with each other is during the Boulder County Fair Parade in August. However, they have set music for the parade and aren't able to showcase their field shows to a set of fans who are passionate about marching band specifically.

St. Vrain is eager to welcome Zach Fruits to the family of band directors this year, as well. "At football games, we have the support of our athletic community, but when people in the stands are other band members who 'get it'... it makes the performance(s) for each group that much more special," Fruits said. He elaborated on the dedication put in by students such as long, hot hours in the sun, late night rehearsals and games, and the practice put in at home and together on the field.

After eleven years teaching at Niwot High School, Wade Hendricks, Director of Bands, said that the cheers from the stadium at this event are always the loudest after every performance and that "students come away with a greater appreciation for the art form" which inspires new ideas to incorporate into present and future shows.

The evening festivities don't end after all the bands have performed their respective shows, however. Lily Sykes, Senior Drum Major at Niwot High School, said that her favorite part of the event was a new addition made last year after the many years this showcase has been in existence. "My favorite part is when we all play [spoilers] at the end of the night," Sykes said. "It's a really fun and meaningful display of unity and support." If you want to hear the special encore performance with the combined mega-band, you'll have to stick around until the end.

Admission to the event is $6 for adults, $5 for students, and free to seniors, children under 6, and 8th graders with a valid student ID. Performances begin at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 4, at Everly-Montgomery Field in Longmont.