For the 33rd time in the past 35 years, the Montezuma-Coretz marching band is once again heading to state.<\/p>\n
After placing first in their class at regionals in Grand Junction, the marching Panthers are sitting third overall in Class 2A with 60.4 points, behind D\u2019Evelyn High School (64.4) and The Classical Academy (65.10).<\/p>\n
However, the points mean little at this point, as the schools were judged at different regionals.<\/p>\n
\u201cAlthough the judges are trained on what to look for and have been band directors themselves, the group of judges that traveled around weren\u2019t always the same,\u201d explained M-CHS band director Rodney Ritthaler. \u201cSo it\u2019s very subjective, but when we all go to the state competition it will be a new panel of judges.\u201d<\/p>\n
At state, schools will be judged by the same panel who critique individual music execution, individual marching and maneuvering, music execution ensemble and marching execution ensemble.<\/p>\n
They will also be scored by two visual judges and a GE judge.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat they do,\u201d Ritthaler said of the visual judges, \u201cIs they look at the show as it relates to the drill design on the field and how the music is portrayed and how well, or how effective everything is working.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd then the GE judge is basically, how well does it affect the audience members,\u201d he continued. \u201cHow impactful is it.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Colorado Bandmasters Association state competition will be held at CSU-Pueblo\u2019s Neta and Eddie DeRose Thunderbowl Stadium on Monday, Oct. 26, and the Panthers will be competing against eight other Class 2A schools, with just five moving on to the finals.<\/p>\n
However, over the last three-plus decades of performing at the state level, the Panthers have failed to advance to the finals just twice.<\/p>\n
M-CHS finished third last year, and second place the two years prior.<\/p>\n
Ritthaler will lead 51 students \u2013 one drum major, three guard members, 11 percussionists and 36 brass and woodwinds \u2013 in their show titled, \u201cJourney through the Far East.\u201d<\/p>\n
The band\u2019s arrangement is comprised of two songs: \u201cVariations on a Korean Folk Song\u201d and \u201cFantasy on a Japanese Folk Song.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOur arranger arranged them for this group so the melodies are kind of intertwined with each other,\u201d Ritthaler said. \u201cSo you get the best of each.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Panthers are hoping that their show, \u201cJourney through the Far East,\u201d is impactful enough to bring home M-CHS\u2019 sixth state title.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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