Part of the IAGenWeb Project
May 26 - 30, 2016 Mason City, Cerro Gordo County, Iowa
Globe Gazette
by Ashley Miller
CLEAR LAKE — Led by the color guard, the 140-member Clear Lake Middle School marching band belted out “Low Rider” as the sixth- through eighth-graders paraded down Second Avenue North Tuesday afternoon. The middle-schoolers were preparing to march alongside high school counterparts at this Saturday’s North Iowa Band Festival parade in downtown Mason City. Although they’ve been the only entry in the middle school division the past four years at the festival, band director Brandon Borseth wasn’t letting his students slack off. He kept them in order as they traveled a mile around the residential neighborhood. “The judges give comments and ratings to them just like they would to a high school band,” Borseth said. Categories that factor into ratings include sound production, being in step and holding
lines. Borseth says he wants his students to be exposed to marching band as early as possible. “Any time there’s an opportunity, it’s a disservice not to present it at a younger age,” he said.
Sixth-graders Grace Meyer, 12, Adrian Gonzalez, 12, and Emily Theiss, 11, have been rehearsing daily, but Tuesday was the first day they joined upperclassmen. Gonzalez, who plays the snare drum, says it’s stressful trying to keep in time while moving. “But I think it sounds good,” he said. Meyer’s older brother, Carson, a sophomore, has been through Band Festival before. He offered her a few tips as she played her snare drum — practice and know her song by heart. “I’m a little nervous for the two miles,” she said of the parade route. They received encouragement along the way Tuesday from 2014 Clear Lake graduate Jacob Welper, who aspires to be a band director. He just wrapped up his sophomore year at Iowa State University, where he’s majoring in music education. “I love coming back to help the little kids,” Welper said. He remembers Band Festival as being a way to showcase Clear Lake. “The preparation was sometimes tedious but we were doing something bigger than ourselves,” he said.
As for Borseth, Welper says he’s just as enthusiastic about music as he was during his senior year of high school. “He was happy and excited about band no matter what time of day it was,” Welper said.
At Mason City High School, three freshmen are excited about being part of their first Band Festival parade — the first of many renditions of “76 Trombones,” they hope.
“I’m proud to be part of Mason City’s music department,” said Hannah Hill, a 14-year-old flutist. “People come just to see us play.”
Like the Clear Lake sixth-graders, Tim Read, 15, and Ben Swegle, 15, plan to keep a close eye on their lines and steps as they uphold the pride of “The Music Man.”
Globe Gazette
Darrell, a Mason City native and orthopedic surgeon, has participated in marching bands and the festival for years.
He has been a choir member of the First Presbyterian Church since 1970, has played in both the Mason City and Clear Lake municipal bands and the annual Tuba Christmas.
Since 2000, Darrell has served on the Performing Arts Pavilion Committee. He is also active in the Noon Rotary Club, particularly in the program to eradicate polio around the world.
Susan, a former coordinator of education at First Presbyterian Church, is also heavily involved in volunteer work.
Stebens Childrens Theatre of Mason City established the Susan Fisher Volunteer of the Year Award in her honor.
She has been recognized with the Grinnell College Alumni Award, the United Way Bob Dutcher Award and the Noon Rotary Service Above Self award.
Dennis and Don Higgins have been honored with the 2016 Klempnauer Award.
Globe Gazette
NORTH IOWA BAND FESTIVAL -
“Down," he shouted over the music, the band's cue to play softer. "Way Down! Way Down!” He then encouraged them to play louder. "Now, way up!," he yelled, as the band dutifully rose to a crescendo. "Up! Up!" Students in Forest City, as well as other bands competing in the 78th annual festival, spent the week putting the finishing touches on their steps as well as their musical performances.
Given the high level of competition in the North Iowa Band Festival, parade veterans say attention to detail is key to being picked a winner. It's about sound, precision of steps and overall impression.
"To really bring it down to the bare essence of what they're looking for, (judges are) looking for the band that looks the best and sounds the best," said Mason City High School Band Director Russ Kramer.
Three judges will evaluate bands Saturday as they march in the 78th North Iowa Band Festival Parade.
One of the judges will score the bands on marching, another will rate musical performance and the third judge will focus on general effect, or the band's overall impression, said long-time North Iowa Band Festival judge Lane Powell. "All those scores are added together and provide a final score on a 100-point scale," said Powell, who also will judge this year's contest.
Creating a cohesive look isn't easy in a large group of students. “Some students come in with a very high coordination level. Some students do not have that, so we try and create that uniformity by putting everyone, hopefully, at the same level,” Schmitt said. In Forest City, older students are put in leadership positions to help younger, less-experienced members.
For drum major Madeline Slater, 18, that means watching to make sure her fellow Forest City bandmates are in step and the lines are in formation.
“So that when we get that into a good habit, once we’re actually performing at Mason that comes naturally and we don’t have to worry about focusing so much on that,” said Slater, a senior. “And then we can focus more on the musical aspect of things.” Musically, judges will be looking for elements such as correct tempo, rhythm and pitch. "Both on the individual level and as an ensemble," Powell said.
In the general effect category, bands are rated for their overall impression.
"It's a broader spectrum," said Powell, who directs a marching band in addition to judging. "We're looking at what types of things are the bands doing to provide contrast and excitement for the audience."
Effort and creativity also play a part in a band's chances of winning. Percussionist and consultant Chris Ward said judges will also factor in any marching maneuvers or short routines into the general effect scores. "Are they going the extra mile to do something special, or are they just marching by in straight lines?" said Ward, of Rieman Music in Mason City. Schmitt said the Forest City band members will be focused on putting out the cleanest, most energetic and entertaining product they can, regardless of whether that will result in a win. "Our community expects us to go down there and sound great, and they know that we're going to put on a good show," he said. "So, for me, one of the biggest things that we can do is go down there and make our people proud, and then show other people what's going on in Forest City."
Schedule courtesy of Mason City Chamber of Commerce
Globe Gazette
The lineup:
1. Trombone Fanfare
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The downpour didn’t stop kids from dancing around or dull the sound of “76 Trombones” as the Mason City High School Marching Band passed by.
Dawn Branstad of Mason City and her family have watched the parade from the same spot on State Street by the overpass for many years.
“Rain or shine, it was still awesome to be here,” Branstad said. The rain didn’t bother her grandson Joseph, 9, as he watched the parade while wearing a plastic poncho.
“They were going to be here no matter what,” Branstad said.
Those who staked their claim early in the week for a spot along the parade route did deal with puddles on their tarps and with soggy blankets.
Band Festival Queen: Carly Miller, Central Springs High School.
Marching Band Awards:
Photographs by Chris Zoeller, courtesy of The Globe Gazette; Mason City Chamber of Commerce
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MASON CITY — Every year the North Iowa Band Festival Committee selects the Grand Marshal Award and Klempnauer Award winners for the weekend of events.
This year’s Grand Marshal Award recipients are Dr. Darrell and Susan Fisher for their volunteer involvement. The award recognizes people of local or national prominence who have made a significant contribution to the development, history or success of the festival.
FOREST CITY -- The Forest City High School Marching Band kicked off its North Iowa Band Festival preparations this week with Director Cory Schmitt hot on its heels.
He prowled the lines as the band marched down the school track Tuesday morning belting out Fall Out Boy's "Light Em Up," urging students to keep pace and be ready for changes in the music.
MASON CITY -- Mother Nature didn’t dampen spirits at the North Iowa Band Festival parade Saturday. The early morning rain ended before the start of the parade but soon started up again as the bands and floats rolled down State Street. Even with the threat of rain, the parade started on time. Spectators huddled under umbrellas or wrapped themselves in beach towels, attempting to stay dry.
Joseph and Damian Blakewell, 6, eagerly picked up candy from the wet street, keeping the five-second rule in mind.
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