Southmoreland High School’s marching band recently traveled to Pittsburgh to perform at the PIMBA Championships. After endless practices and countless performances and competitions, the band finished third.

The Pennsylvania Interscholastic Marching Band Association hosted it’s 21st competition at Moon Area High School, having 12 different schools partake in this event. Southmoreland’s marching band, being one of the smaller bands with 56 performers, placed 3rd with a score of 79.38. Fox Chapel was second with 79.63 and Deer Lakes finished first with 80.48.

The theme of Amongst Starry Skies was Southmoreland’s featured performance.

Anxiety pulsed through the veins of the red and black clad musicians as they performed with their every breath and heartbeat striving toward success.

The class of 2016 had twenty-seven graduating marching band members; only five seniors are in the ensemble.

The last performance left Kylie Diener, a flute player of eight years and a piccolo player of three years, “speechless but in a good way.” She knew it was the last time she would step on a field to perform.

“I know that our band had our best performance to date at Pennsylvania International Marching Band Association (PIMBA) championships and that’s all that matters; always being better than the day before,” said Bailey Geerhing, who has been in marching band for three years but has played the clarinet for eight.

Krista Allen said that the band season was a “rollercoaster” but this past season has “definitely been my favorite because I felt the closest to everyone and put on the best show that Southmoreland has had in years.”

Diener said “my marching band experience over the past four years has been nothing but rewarding and influential on my life.” The senior had “the honor” of having a leadership position as a commanding officer and a section leader. Over the past year, she has made new friendships and unbreakable bonds while pushing herself to do everything she could into this organization in order to “leave a positive, lasting impact.”

“It’s been pretty stressful,” said Jami Fisher, a five-year marching band member and an eight-year trombone player along with playing the baritone for three years. “But when we turned to face the crowd and perform, it was like energy just erupted from the ensemble and I started to tear up because it was outstanding and I was with my best friends,” said Fisher.

Mr. Shawn Harris, Southmoreland’s marching band director, said that he “wasn’t concerned with placement.” What was more important to him, he said, was the students and their “progression from June to the end of the season.”

“But it doesn’t matter what place we came in or what our score was,” said Kylie Mulnix, a third year marching band member and an eight year flute player. “All that matters is that we played our hearts out.”

Joining marching band has been “the best decision that we ever made” according to Geerhring because she made “so many new friends and memories.”

“My only regret is not joining sooner,” said Geerhring. This season is by far all of the girls favorite over the past few years; and they left with a “bittersweet goodbye.”

“I’ll miss the memories and forming new bonds; the bus rides to games and competitions were always my favorite because it’s when we all get to relax and just enjoy each others company which then in turn created hundreds of inside jokes that I will carry with me forever,” said Diener.

“Take advantage of every opportunity and enjoy every moment,” said Mr. Harris. “It doesn’t matter what career path you follow, but approach it with a lot of energy and passion.”

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Lily Fullem

Senior Editor, involved in multiple school clubs, extracurricular activities, and community service. Hobbies include reading, writing, music, and volunteering.

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