The 75 member Chesterton High School Trojan Guard marching band traveled to Concord High School in Elkhart this past Saturday to participate with 19 other Northern Indiana bands in the Indiana State School Music Association’s (ISSMA) district level contest. The Trojan Guard put in a performance that earned them a “Gold” Superior level rating, and that achievement qualified the group for the ISSMA Regional level of competition on Saturday, October 18.

This District event marks the first level of statewide competition toward the ultimate goal of competing in the annual ISSMA State Marching Band Championship held in Indianapolis later this fall. Bands are adjudicated by a panel of six judges in the areas of Individual Music Performance, Ensemble Music Performance, Music Effect, Individual Visual Performance, Ensemble Visual Performance, and Overall Visual Effect.

Bands receiving a composite score high enough to qualify for a first division (superior) rating, qualify to move on to either the Northern Indiana, or Southern Indiana regional competitions held on October 18.

At the northern and southern regional competitions, the top 10 highest scoring bands will advance to the Semi-State competition where they will go head to head with all of the bands in their class for a chance to be one of the top 10 highest scoring groups and secure a position as a State Finalist band. A total of 40 bands (10 from each class A,B,C,D) will then compete at the Indiana State Marching Band Championship held in the new Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, on Saturday, November 1.

The next performances by the Trojan Guard will be this Saturday, Oct. 11 when the group takes part in a “double header”, by competing first at the “Fall Festival Band Invitational” hosted by Ft. Wayne Homestead High School, and then traveling to Plymouth High School to take part in their “Fall Harvest Festival of Bands” competition. The Homestead performance of the Trojan Guard will begin at 4:43 p.m. EST, and the band will hit the starting line at Plymouth at 8:30 p.m. EST.

The CHS Music Department and Band Boosters are currently looking for alumni and parents of alumni to assist with the hosting of our ISSMA Regional at CHS on Saturday, Oct. 18. The 30 Class “B” and class “D” bands are scheduled to compete throughout the day and a great deal of help is needed to make this event a success. Anyone interested in assisting with the regional is strongly urged to contact the CHS Booster Chairman Rob Borg (763-7032 ) as soon as possible. You may also contact the CHS Music Dept. at 983-3730 ext. 7172. “This is a wonderful time for alumni to get involved again and to remember the days when this activity helped to shape their lives. If they can pour soft drinks, park a car, or put a hotdog on a bun, their help in supporting the members of today’s Trojan Guard is greatly needed, and will be greatly appreciated,” said Michael Scheiber, director of the Trojan Guard.

Members of the 2008 Trojan Guard include: Michelle AmRein, Justin Appleman, Andrea Arndt, Lucas Baughman, Elijah Bell, Davis Benson, Allison Bodza, Elliot Borg, Mark Borowiak, Ursula Brown, Brianna Cole, Kaylie Collins, Brian Corder, Charlie Cross, Tori DeMoss, John Denfeld, Lea Dujmovich, Patrick English, Megan English, Christina Gault, Megan Gillespie, Ashley Gillespie, Rich Hardin, Jordan Harris, Alexander Hartney, Samantha Hickle, Haylea Himes, Roberto Hoppenrath, Harley Howard, Christopher Hughes, Mike Jankowicz, Sloan Jones, Nathanael Jones, Andrew Kay, Barbara Kubiszewski, Ryan Leeth, Stephanie Leeth, Mike Leopold, Bradley Levi, Sarah Ling, Elena Lutze, Cassandra Marx, Declan McNicholas, Brian Moore, Jacob Mueller, Matt Ols, Anna Pesut, Mavric Price, Jake Pullins, Aidan Quealy, Erin Rebus, Anna Rinchak, Cate Rinchak, D.J. Rizer, Julia Roldan, Melinda Ross, Max Sangerman, Brittany Seay, Allie Sexton, Lydia Steciuch, Lindsey Stewart, Clay Thomas, Eva Thomas, Brianna Valdez, Charity Vallangeon, John Vallangeon, Katherine Vallangeon, Justine Vogie, Patrick Weaver, Breanna White, Matthew Wineland, Nicholas Wineland and Allison Witek. The drum major for the Trojan Guard is Neil Hicks.

The directors of the Trojan Guard are Michael Scheiber and Vincent Arizzi. Additional staff includes Color Guard directors Lisa Scheiber and Nicole Krance, Jeff Wroblewski on visual design, and Jeff William as visual technician.

Posted 10/6/2008