Colt Marching Band October 2015 Preview

The 216 members of the Troy Colt Marching Band (TCMB) are shining bright as they head into Homecoming and Invitational season with their amazing halftime show, “Written in the Stars.”

Their first invitational, at the new Bloomfield Hills High School on September 16, saw the TCMB match up against Birmingham Groves, Bloomfield Hills and Stoney Creek---with half-time show themes like “The Music of Queen,” “Summer Vacation” and “Earth Wind & Fire”. The TCMB’s “Written in the Stars” program featured fabulous new color guard costumes, and a few interesting twists. “There are subtle new additions in each performance as we move through the season,” said Director of Bands, Brian Nutting. “New components are discovered and included in the Band’s weekly rehearsals, so each performance evolves, incorporating changes that build upon one another.”

The next opportunity to see the TCMB in invitational action is on Saturday, September 26, at the Birmingham Groves Invitational, 6 – 9 pm, followed by the Harper Woods Invitational on Saturday, October 3 at 2 pm. Invitationals are local events where neighboring bands get to show off their talent in friendly competitions with other local bands.

Mark your calendars for Homecoming, on Friday, October 9. This event is always a great time, and features a pre-game 1 ½ mile parade along Northfield Parkway, beginning at 5:30 pm at Boulan Park Middle School (3570 Northfield Parkway) and ending at Troy High School (4777 Northfield Parkway). The parade usually takes 30 minutes, and includes local dignitaries, THS clubs and teams, along with the Marching Band, which will feature their drumline cadence and perform their parade dance to “Fancy,” by Iggy Izaela. Come for the parade, stay for the football, and hang around for the TCMB’s performance at the end of the game.

Next up, there’s no place like home, as the Troy Colt Bands host the MSBOA (Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association) District Marching Band Festival on Wednesday, October 14 (rain date, October 21). “It is a great honor to once again be one of the host sites for the MSBOA Marching Band Festival in our district. It is very exciting to have eight marching bands from area high schools visit Troy High to share their wonderful halftime shows. This is also an opportunity for these schools to be evaluated by the MSBOA judges so that they can receive feedback on their performances that can be applied to their shows as the football season continues,” says Troy High Band Boosters President Sue Balamucki.

Finally, the much-anticipated annual cross-town rivalry game against Troy Athens will be held at Athens, on October 16, 7 pm (4333 John R Rd, Troy, MI 48085). The TCMB will be present in full force for this away game, and at the end of the game, the two schools will continue a longstanding tradition where the Colt and Red Hawk drumlines challenge each other in the annual “drum-off.” It is really something to see.

Recap: upcoming opportunities to see the TCMB shine include:

· 9/26: Saturday, Birmingham Groves Invitational at Groves High School, 6 – 9 pm

· 10/3: Saturday, Harper Woods Invitational at Harper Woods High School, 2 pm

· 10/09: Friday, Homecoming game v. Clarkston, 7 pm

· 10/14: Wednesday, MSBOA Marching Band Festival at Troy High

· 10/16: Friday, Cross-town rivals v. Athens at Athens High School, 7 pm

· 10/23: Friday Final homegame v. – TBD, 7 pm.

For more information on the Troy Colt Marching Band, see www.troycoltbands.org.