Band students from Silver Spring Intermediate School and Templeton Middle School visited Grove Stadium at Hamilton High School on Tuesday, October 13 for a Community Day performance. The annual field trip has become a cherished tradition within the Hamilton School District band program, helping spark a lasting appreciation for music and the arts among younger students.
“Once you get into marching band, you realize there are so many awesome people and you get to build community,” Hamilton High School Sophomore Autumn Phillips told the younger students. “You get to make friends and you become less nervous coming into the high school,” Phillips said.
The performance featured educational insights into the instruments and music from Hamilton High School and Templeton Middle School Director of Instrumental Music Jon Waite. Following the performance, several high school musicians also had the opportunity to connect directly with the visiting intermediate and middle school students, sharing their experiences and inspiring the next generation of musicians.
Philips and other HHS students told younger audience members that they clearly remember attending this same performance before they began high school. “I remember sitting in these stands and thinking ‘marching band is so cool,’ but I was so nervous. I wasn’t sure if I should join the marching band,” Phillips explained. She smiled as she reflected about all the friends and memories she has made as a member of the HHS marching band. “It makes your high school experience one thousand percent better,” she assured the crowd.
Waite pointed out that not all HHS students performing were wearing traditional marching band uniforms. “We want to showcase the fact that students are able to be involved in multiple things at the same time,” Waite explained, gesturing to students wearing sports jerseys and t-shirts representing other HHS clubs and activities.