The Chesterton High School Trojan Guard Marching Band traveled to Goshen, Indiana this past Saturday to participate with 12 other Northern Indiana bands in the Goshen High School “Crimson Invitational.” The Class “A” competition was won by the 220 member Penn Marching Kingsmen from Mishawaka, Indiana who scored 63.50. Second place was captured by the CHS Trojan Guard with a score of 55.30, third to the members of Elkhart Memorial’s Crimson Charger Band who scored 54.85, and fourth place with a score of 54.50 to the Blazer Brigade of Elkhart Central High School. Rounding out the top five places in the Class “A” Competition was the Tiger’s Pride from Warsaw, Indiana with a score of 51.70.
This early season invitational is a precursor to the upcoming Indiana State School Music Association (ISSMA) competitions that will begin in early October. The results of the ISSMA competitions will then decide which groups will qualify to perform in Lucas Oil Stadium on Saturday, November 8 as part of the ISSMA State Championship event.
The Trojan Guard’s 2014 field show entitled, “The Gilded Cage,” features adaptations of three well-known concert band pieces, as well as some original material composed by the Trojan Guard staff.
The works include: ‘Shepherd’s Hey’ by Percy Grainger, ‘Velocity’ by Robert Sheldon, and ‘The Seal Lullaby’ composed by Eric Whitacre. All of the instrumental music and audio excerpts are designed to support the story line of the bands show as their “Birds” (Color Guard) frolic and fly, ultimately escaping their captivity from The Gilded Cage.
There are 110 students in the Trojan Guard, 59 woodwinds and brass players, 17 percussionists, 33 color guard members and one drum major. Members of the 2014 Trojan Guard include: Amera Abuhakmeh, Bianca Alvarez, Mariah Bement, Abby Billings, Brian Bolin, Trey Bonnema, Teagan Bowen, Diva Bridegroom, Sariah Brimberry, Aaron Brookhouse, Katie Budzius, Andrew Cernick, Emily Cernick, Belle Chandler, Jane Chisholm, Madison Comfort, Dakota Cummins, Nick DeHenes, Ashley Dennis, Tristan Dooley, Naomi Draus, Annabelle Engel, Jacob Espinoza, Laura Estridge, Victoria Evans, Andrew Figg, Riley Franklin, Sailor Franklin, Izabelle Galvin-Ellis, Alysa Garriott, David Gerth, Arianna Hall, Anthony Hampton, Hayley Hardesty, James Hawley, Ally Henry, Nathan Herr, Hailey Hickey, David Hodgkiss, Loren Hodgkiss, Mark Hodgkiss, Rowan Holsen, Sonia Holsen, Brandon Jackett, Samantha Johnson, Curtis Jones, Jack Jones, Holly Jones, Olivia Kaiser, Henry Keller, Kara Kirby, David Kosakowski, Sam Kravitz, Anthony Langley, Michael Lipinski, Nicole Lubarski, Shania Lubarski, Jackson Lucken, Bobby Maletta, Hannah Maluvac, Madison McCall, Nathan McCall, Shaye McCarthy, Reagan McCoy, Skylar McElheny, Taylor McElheny, Clare McNicholas, Elissa McNicholas, Emily Mellin, Abby Morris, Kaylee Mullins, Violet Needham, Allie Ordziejewski, Spencer Ostrega, Fred Owens, Bryan Pamintuan, Yioti Panayioti, Joel Peterson, Nathan Poczekay, Nolan Poczekay, Alexis Poe, Hannah Pruitt, Jocelyn Rattray, Lysette Rattray, Dylan Rodriguez, Zach Royko, Samantha Runions, Joe Sabol, Kylie Sabol, Sydney Sarver, Delaney Schavey, Chris Sexton, Ashley Shideler, Natalie Stemler, Laura Stepanovich, Madison Stickels, Colin St.Mary, Payton Stobbe, Garrett Swanson, Cameron Tassler, Donna Trowbridge, Valerie Valerio, Abi Vallangeon, Alexi Vander Vinne, Alissa VanNoorte, Kayla VanNoostran, Sydney Walker, Jacob Winland, and Abby Wright. The Drum Major for the Trojan Guard is Seth Halpin.
The Trojan Guard is under the direction of Michael Scheiber with assistance by Vincent Arizzi. Additional staff includes Lisa Scheiber as Color Guard director and Jeff Wroblewski as drill design. For additional information regarding the Trojan Guard or any band activity, please contact the CHS Music Department at 983-3730.
The next competition for the Trojan Guard will be Saturday, September 20 at the ‘Chicagoland Marching Band Invitational” hosted by Wheeling High, in Wheeling, Illinois. The next local performance by the band will be at the CHS football pre-game festivities on Friday, September 26 when the Golden Trojans take on the Indians of Portage High School.