Scholastic Marching A

Creekview HS – Infinite Unknown

The ensemble takes the floor with impressive uniforms wearing white hooded vests. They stand spread on the floor facing a member standing atop a golden column, seemingly in worship. Each section of the battery moves to the four  corners of the floor, taking features, before uniting in the center during a melodic swell form the front. A memorial moment in the show is when members begin clapping rhythmically into yellow well-like props, hearing the clap echoed back out of it. At one point, a member braves the infinite unknown and jumps into the well. The show end on a mysterious moment, with the battery and front playing with might and during the final notes, a wacky-waving-inflatable-arm-flailing-tube-man pops from one of the nearby props, adding humor to the shows end.

Chattahoochee HS - Nexis

Chattahoochee’s opening layout mimics that of the tarp, which has a futuristic elemental “X” shape with the battery laid along the X surrounding the keyed instruments in the center of the floor. While the front plays a very Spanish tinged melody, the battery claps rhythmically along, performing robotic body movements. During the next movement the front expands their layout on the floor, spreading the keys and centering around the drum kit, a very unique design choice that adds to the show.

Bob Jones HS

The battery begins in what look like school desks. As the front begins to play, a battery members stands and begins drumming on his desk, followed by the rest of the battery. The “students” push their desks to the edge of the floor and put on their drums, leading into a beautiful battery feature. On the back of the tarp, members stand atop desks while expanding and shrinking colorful Hoberman spheres. Throughout the movement, the front plays scales and melodies that give a feeling of hope and wonder, perhaps symbolizing the hope and wonder that young students have in school

Ardrey Kell HS – Predictible

The show begins with the ensemble playing circus like music with a voice over speaking about how we fall into the same old routine of getting up, going to work, going to bed, and repeating the cycle. During the voice over, the battery march around one another in a very structured and intricate formation. In order to prevent predictability, Ardrey Kell subverts out exportations. For example, during a moment, the battery plays forcefully, then raises their sticks preparing audiences for a big hit, only to bring them down and bow to the crowd. Shortly after, a voice over screams “wait for it!!” while the battery prepares to play some large notes. However after a pause, the front begins playing Rick Astley’s “Never Gonna Give You Up”, a moment that earned cheers from the crowd. Several other unpredictable moments brought the crowd to their feet, showering Ardrey Kell with applause, clearly one of their fan favorites.

Hardin Valley Academy – For Whom The Bell Tolls

Dressed like monks, praying with bend hands, Hardin Valley starts their show off with mysticism and wonder. Arranged around the floor are several church bells and large triangles made of stained church glass. The bassline then mimic their feature while the xylophones in the front ensemble play notes in time with their movements. While the battery does body on the floor, the front plays melodies with monastic chants while also giving the music an Egyptian, Phrygian feeling.

Ninety Six HS – Behind the Mask

A throne sits atop a set of stairs on the corner of Ninety Six’s floor, and begins with a monarch figure walking towards in through a path created by the still bodies of the battery. As the battery dons their drums and begins playing they occasionally bow and kneel to appease the monarch. During a dual feature between the snares and marimbas, both sections play their features with crisp precision. The design and concept of this show is a strong one, with the two visual members, the body and actions of the battery, and the musical tones of the front all blending together to convey the story.

Dorman HS

The ensemble begins spread across the floor, with the front grouped in the mid right section of the tarp. The tap itself looks like a cracked, dry desert ground, with banners along the front of the floor sharing the same image; the ensemble are dressed in desert colors. Different sections of the battery flow in and out across the floor, performing their features. During a heartfelt movement led musically by the pit, visual members come on the floor carrying blue tinged ribbons, signifying rain finally falling on the desert ground. The battery re-emerges with less brown on their uniforms, replaced with touches of green, playing more solos as they are reborn and refreshed.

Independant Marching A

Point Indoor Percussion - 

Point Indoor performs a very emotional and heartfelt show, with the front ensemble beautifully capturing that feeling with their playing. The back of the tarp has black props that when turned around reveal memorable moments in a person’s life that they spend with a loved one. The battery ends the middle movement with a uniform feature that brought strength to the show, elevating the energy, before moving to a rendition of “See You Again” by Wiz Khalifa. The end of the show is highlighted by a moment where a member takes a lone vocal solo, singing the chorus of “See You Again” then being joined by the rest of the ensemble for the final notes. This moment was truly a fan favorite moment that brought everyone cheering to their feet.

Scholastic Concert Open

Cleveland HS

The ensemble played with much gusto during their first movement. The strong crescendos of the keyed instruments were accentuated well with bass drum, shakers, and additional elements from the auxiliary percussion section. A highlight throughout the performance was the timpani player. Sometimes playing just accents, sometimes playing whole phrases, but throughout the timpani brought additional life to the show.

Warren East High and Middle School – Chasing the Storm

The show begins with a dark, ominous tone matching the title of the production. The marimbas play beautiful runs, accented by the vibraphone player, as the pitch and mood descend. As the keys play melodies in a ¾ time signature, the drum kit player holds a steady groove in 4/4 causing views to tap their feet along with the beat. The following movement begins with a voice over speaking about chasing your storm when the time comes, which leads into the ensemble playing fast staccato notes, evoking a feeling of running. Featured throughout the performance is an electronic vibraphone, played beautifully by one of the ensemble members.

Scholastic Marching Open

North Paulding HS - Dark Side of the Moon

The show starts with a voice over alerting flight control of a plane crash as the battery as the battery performs chaotic body. The mood chances to an aggressive one in the next movement with the snares performing a feature with several rim shots and fast attacks, followed shortly by the rest of the battery. A memorable feature of the show is when the entire battery plays unison eighth notes with glowing red sticks while the front accents the nots with dissonant chords. The show ends with the front ensemble paying a haunting melody.

Collins Hill HS – Maestros House of Marvel

Set on a circus type stage, Collins Hill starts their show with force. The battery floods out from behind the curtain and plays a grand unison feature that takes the energy to the rooftops. Each section gets a feature in the center of the stage surrounded by the rest of the battery. A rolling platform is pushed out to center stage with a member playing a snare solo. Another member runs to the stage on the bottom left of the floor and begins to play, slowly being joined by the rest of the marching ensemble until they all play powerfully together. The general mood throughout the show seemed to be directed by the visual ensemble member who acts as the lead performer and perhaps is the maestro who owns of the House of Marvel in the title.

Fred J Page HS – Back To Earth

Set in a future 100 years after mankind has left Earth, the battery of the ensemble enters the floor while the front plays fast paced melodies as the battery “discovers” a new world to re-settle. The battery begins playing heavy aggressive beats as they encounter foreign aliens and engage in battle. The front ensemble dos an excellent job throughout the show setting the tone with their notes. Sometimes playing dark, haunting melodies that mirror the desperation of the lone colonists that the battery represent. As a storm consumes the colonizers, the battery and front erupt into a frenzy of chaotic notes. The use of the visual marching members as “aliens” helps bring extra depth to Fred J Page’s production in both a design sense and a story-telling sense.

Halls HS

Halls’ show begins with the battery performing body in front of various props placed towards the bac of the floor that resemble trees. A larger willow-type tree lights up with a purple glow, adding a nice visual element and focal point to the show. As the ensemble plays, the tenors take a feature around one of the smaller trees that also glows. As the basses and snares take solos, the trees around them glow as well. During the next movement, the marimbas and metals flow seamlessly into one another creating beautiful chords, before taking a darker turn. Meanwhile the battery dances and moves in between the glowing trees adding visual intensity to the scene. As the large tree on the back changes color from purple to red, chaos seems to erupt within the ensemble, leading to a furious bas feature.

Choctawhatchee HS – Love

The ensemble’s uniforms and matching tarp were very eye-catching in this show. The heavy white with purple overtones matches and compliments the purple tarp with designs printed onto the floor out of white dots. Lined along the floor are white blocks, with larger ones on the back. At one point in the how the blocks are taken and rearranged to be a platform or catwalk of sorts for the lead visual performer, who, along with the battery and front, wears glasses that cover all of their eyes. The battery then takes features while the front plays a rendition of Peter Gabriel’s 1986 hit “Your Eyes.”

Sparkman HS

Taking place in what looks to be a mystical winter land, Sparkman begins with the front ensemble playing notes that evoke a sense of mystery, wonder and peace. The wondrous feeling is slowly invaded by fast attacks from the snare and tenor line with the bass line’s intensity adding to the increasing chaos. The marching sections move and weave in between tall sharp-looking tower props that are moved into various shapes and patterns on the floor. Tenors using muted mallets in the next movement bring things down a touch and add some peace to the so far hectic atmosphere.  However the peace doesnt last long, as the front ensembles fast paced playing brings the energy levels back up, followed by snare and tenor solos played while the basses sprint and weave throughout and around them.

Independent Marching Open

Alchemy Percussion

A unique feature that Alchemy begins their production with was having one side of the front split and facing in towards the center. This layout was further highlighted by two members playing on a board, with one facing the traditional way and the other facing on the opposite side of the keyboard. As the show progresses, the battery plays aggressively leading to an impressive snare solo including split claps, and turning of their snare on and off. Simultaneously the front players used violin bows on their cymbals to create strangely beautiful and dissonant pitches and sounds. At several points in the show, a snare player seemed to have his snare hooked up to an electronic interface, with his attacks and rolls being simulated, modulated and played through the ensemble’s speakers. The show ends with the battery playing their hearts out to a cover of “Otherside” by Red Hot Chili Peppers.

Q2 – Spring on Another Planet

Q2’s show has several interesting design choices, including its tree prop with glowing hole, and the choice to split the front ensemble into sections and have them each arc slightly along the front of the floor. The purple and neon yellowish-green color of the tarp also help convey the otherworldly-ness that the show aims to achieve. The battery does an excellent job towards the end of the first movement of marching closely together while playing unison notes in clean crisp manner.

FIU Indoor Percussion

The show starts with a Spanish theme from the front ensemble, as the bass line enters the floor with a fast and furious feature involving the top two basses doing amazing hand to hand splits!! Members sit and begin playing cajons adding to the Latin flair of the show. The pace and energy of this show is incredibly high with the tenors taking a feature that wowed audiences. During a bullfight moment of the show, a member steps off the floor near the front ensemble and begins playing a trumpet solo, further adding to the Spanish theme.

Civitas Independent

In an interesting twist right off the bat, Civitas begins their show with the boards of the front ensemble spread around throughout the floor. Eventually as the battery move into formation on the tarp, the front moves towards the front in a more traditional spot. The marching formations are very appealing due to their flowing circular nature. The sense of movement conveyed by the battery and visual ensemble helps give the show an extra punch of energy.

Audio Theater

Audio Theater easily has the most complex set complete with full background drop with double doors and accompanying side panel props, resembling a museum lobby of sorts. The ensemble, all frozen in poses like mannequins suddenly come to life and begin playing while circling the center desk. A playful moment in the show occurred during the cymbal feature where the cymbals, dressed as pilots, engaged in a fake dogfight accompanied by “Flight of the Valkyries” from the front. The energy continues when a member enters the floor, dressed in full dinosaur costume! A moment that brought the crowd cheering to their feet!

Scholastic Concert World

Tunstall HS

Playing a several Christmas songs in their show, the ensemble showed up dressed in black and red, an appropriate aesthetic considering the theme. The woods did an excellent job playing lower registered octave chords giving their rendition of “Carol of the Bells” a dark melancholic feel. The group then moved on to play the Christmas standard “Silent Night” during which the performers let the music swell and fall beautifully with the various runs and crescendos laced throughout the piece. As they moved on to “Joy To The World” the chimes player did an excellent job of accenting the runs of the keys and adding to the uplifting feel of the movement.

Scholastic Marching World

Lambert HS
 The ensemble enter the floor wearing various masks in the shape of animal heads. As the battery begins playing, mountain shaped props light up, cascading the battery in green light. The fantastical feelings evoked by the rhythms and melodies of the front are enhanced by the basses and tenors, weaving in and out of each others sound. Once a members steals a magic red book from another, the members remove their animal masks and the mood of the show takes a turn, from aggressive to a more serene feeling. The mood changes once again as the green mountain props are turned around to reveal they are black with evil red faces and begins surrounding the battery.

North Gwinnett HS A Life Uncommon

The props and set design of this show are very impressive, with boarders all along the front and back of the tarp with phrases reading “think different”, “create opportunity” among and others. The show really kicks off after a voice over explaining how an Artificial Intelligence feels isolated and feels the need to take its first step, and a member runs across the tarp into a flying front flip, a move that wowed audiences.  From there the show is full of high energy moments and features, all while a single yellow chair rotates in a glass case towards the middle of the floor. The basses earned insane amounts of applause after performing their solo, which included bass runs all up and down the line!

Milton HS

 Beginning in a very steampunk fashion, a mysterious marching ensemble member powers up the group who began walking stiff like a robot. This is a marching motif that comes into play several times throughout the show. Another interesting design aspect was the similarities between tempo and the liveliness of the robots; the faster the tempo the more full of life and energy the robots are. However when the tempo slows, the robots seem to power down. The dissonant chords of the keys and the use of heavy percussive elements such as the brake drum from the rack further adds to the mechanic motif.

Independent Marching World

Equinox Percussion

The ensemble begins by performing  an artful dance routine to a cover of “Paint It Black” while all dressed in black. The front then breaks out playing a driving rendition of Snarky Puppy’s “” while the tenors play their solo at a break neck speed. During a snare feature the pit plays beats on large toms mounted on their instrument bars. The disjointed reprise of “Paint It Black” is highlighted by a cymbal feature that adds a cryptic feel  to the production. Throughout the show, one member, dressed all in white and playing an acoustic guitar, is worshipped by the rest of the ensemble, even being carried back to stage as if crowd surfing. Following the black/color motif, the tarp at times is peeled away in some sections to reveal brightly colored splats of paint.

Atlanta Quest

The show starts with a brief but impressive solo from the drumkit before launching into a breakneck tenor and marimba feature. The snare line comes out blasting, holding nothing back as it plays notes at swift speeds with the rest of the battery and drumkit. The marimbas deep double octave chords set the ominous tone for the next movement of the show. The snareline plays some serious notes next in a moment that gets a great response from the crowd. During the various features, the battery moves with fluidity across the floor, forming different shapes, and entering intertwined circular formations around each other. All throughout the show is nothing but pure unaltered energy!