Lafayette High School - Marquis Yearbook (Lexington, KY)

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hours every weekday. These sessions are crucial to the success of the band. Of the five contests the band com- petes in, one includes an inspection. This adds more time to the already countless hours of preparation. There is much to be done, and band members and parents dedicate themselves to the tasks. Instruments must be in perfect Working order and be clean enough to pass an actual white glove test. Rifles and flag pikes are cleaned and re-taped. Coats, trousers, and skirts are laun- dered, buttons polished, and hems cor- rected. Shoes, boots, and flag belts are shined to a glaring white. Brass breastplates and belt buckles are polished, While crossbelts, citation cords, and ascots are washed. The be- rets, aussi hats, and rabbit fur shakos are cleaned, and the red and blue plumes shaken out. In addition to these preparations, the band must return to the field and re- hearse lining up, left, right, and about face, and other vocal commands. These are practiced again and again until the band snaps with precision. Once school begins, the band re- hearses each day during fifth hour and at sectionals after school. The band also holds practice up to three nights a Week. In addition, the band often prac- tices early in the morning on a contest day. Is it worth all the work? Ask any band member and he or she will proba- bly say yes. The hours of practice are forgiven if not forgotten when the voice on the speaker exclaims, And the GRAND CHAMPIONSHIP goes to the LAFAYETTE HIGH SCHOOL BAND! fTop leftj Sophomore Bobby Dodge displays in- tense concentration as the inspection judge pas- ses. fTop rightj Before a crowd of several thousand, the Lafayette Band competes in the Contest Of Champions at Murfreesboro, Tenn. fAboveJ Moments before the judge appears, the band members assume postures of complete still- ness. fOpp. pg. top rightj Before loading the bus for inspection, a band parent helps sophomore Kathy Vogele with last minute details. lOpp. pg. top leftj junior percussionist Wes Thomas pa- tiently adjusts a timpani as the band prepares for a contest. fOpp. pg. bottom leftj The band plays to the judges as they rehearse during fifth hour. fOpp. pg. bottom rightl Seniors Lisa Ricketts and Susan Fister work on their hair before donning the rest of their uniforms. BY ME ME BUX TON

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WHAT IT AIYES ... IDIQEIDAIQATIUNS The lights flood the stadium. The stands are full of people squirming with nervous anticipation. Slowly, a marching band glides down the length of the football field. The crowd grows quiet as the loud speaker bristles with an authoritative voice. And now, from Lexington, Ky., the Lafayette High School Band, under the direction of I. Larry Moore with Field Commander Io Ellen Pike. There is a roar from the crowd as fans wildly wave red, white, and blue flags. As the cheers begin to fade, the voice once again fills the speakers. Lafayette, you may take the field. The next seven minutes are a specta- cle of music and precision. For the 139 members of the Lafayette Band, it is time to put all the hard work into ac- tion. The contest has begun. 3 ul Most spectators at a band contest don't realize the practice behind a win- ning band. The preparation begins in early August when pre-band camp is held. For four hours a day for five days, the band members work on fundamen- tals. These include playing and marching skills, which ultimately must come together. The next week is spent at band carnp at Morehead University. Practice some- times totals ten hours a day as the band struggles to memorize the new drill. Meanwhile, the music is memorized at indoor rehearsals. The next step is to combine the music and the drill, which consumes many agonizing hours. After camp, the band returns to Lexington and spends the remaining weeks before the first contest perfecting the show. Rehearsals are held for six . L rikku T. MX-wir . .. get '- I4 Q-Sgt

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CCEIIF L All the preparations of the year pro- ved to be successful for the Lafayette Band as they marched away with the first place trophy in three of five con- tests. In August at the Kentucky State Fair Band Contest, Lafayette won first place in the large division, Best Auxilary fflags and riflesj Award, and the overall Grand Championship. Next came the Danville Invitational, in which the band once again was awarded first place in their division and the overall trophy. In addition, Io Ellen Pike overcame tough competition to be chosen as Best Field Commander in her division. In the most important contest of the year, the Murfreesboro Contest of Champions , Lafayette came up on the short end, tying for third place. This was a disappointing finish for the band as they had reigned as the Grand Champions of this contest for the past two years. During a miserable rainy night, the band sloshed through ankle-deep mud to win the local Lions' Invitational, which had been postponed twice be- cause of rain. In the last contest of the year, at Morehead, the band placed sec- ond. Concert season proved to be very ex- citing for the band as they journeyed to Mexico for a music festival. The band gave concerts and performed their marching show while there. Upon their return, they received superior ratings at the State Band Festival. In the spring, the band exhibited their ,marching show for the National Band Association meeting in Knox- ville. Activities that many individuals of the band participated in were: All-State Band, Morehead Band Clinic, Pep Band, and Solo and Ensemble Contest. Contests, along with winter and spring concerts and participation in a Cincinnati Bengals half-time show, made for an exciting year for the band. All the hard work proved fruitful as the Lafayette Band produced a successful year. by Meme Buxton