Salem Marching Blue is currently marching 49 students, according to director Gannon Craig. Craig is in his second year at Salem High School, and fifth overall as a band director.
The band has had success in competitions in recent years:
• a third-place finish in the Sullivan Marching Festival in September 2022;
• all-district honors, including many first and second chairs;
• the concert band took home a 1 rating (exemplary) in March 2023.
In other marching competitions of the 2022 season, the band placed in various areas and continued to raise its scores overall.
Craig stated music programs help students connect to the power of music, something that he says has been with him his whole life, in a featured article this spring.
“Music is music. I grew up in a musical household, so it’s always kind of been there for me. But a lot of my philosophy behind teaching is, there’s a power to music. There’s an actual power to music. If you have a good performance, it’s not just a hearing thing, it’s a feeling thing,” said Craig. “When you have a good performance or you go out and make music, that’s an experience.
The band’s current theme for the 2023 marching season is Grimm.
With the continued success of the department, the band has been fundraising for new uniforms. Current uniforms were purchased in 2007. The life span of uniforms is about 10 years, and these are now being stretched to their 16th marching season. The initial investment is a large one, but with proper care Craig said it is worthwhile and can benefit the band for years to come.
Current funds raised total around $10,000 but the band is eyeing closer to $30,000. A soft deadline has been set for the end of December to lock in the current price of $520 per uniform. Craig worked with the DeMoulin Bros. and Co. to come up with a design prototype. The company is the oldest and largest manufacturer of music performance group apparel in the world. DeMoulin's primary plant location is in Greenville, Ilinois, as well as their corporate office.
“We had an idea in mind but a big thing for us was we wanted to share an identity,” shared Craig. “We went back and forth a few times with design details and came up with one we all agreed on.”
The prototype features a lighter material with cyan feather plumes, a bit of accented rhinestones, and a more comfortable neck enclosure for all students. Current uniforms are a very heavy material, with tight neck closures that prove to be hot when marching season begins. Students have overheated in the past at festivals.
Craig does not want to see the old uniforms be lost. He wore them while he was a student at SHS, as so many others have over the past 16 years. They may be utilized in another capacity or possibly a fundraiser.
The year moves from marching season to concert band and pep band. After marching festivals on October 7, 14, and 21, at Mountain Grove, Potosi, and a final festival in Reeds Springs, the band will hang up marching shoes for concert band. Concert music will be decided upon in October and start rehearsals in November. The pep band aims to play during at least four games for both the girls and boys basketball home games during the winter season.
A community performance is scheduled for 6 p.m. Oct. 19, as well as the remaining home football games scheduled for Sept. 29 and Oct. 6 to see the band in action.
Fundraising has been a group effort for band over the past few years. Past fundraisers include funnel cakes at community events, bake sales, donations at community performances, candy bar sales, and others. The current fundraiser is custom Christmas ornaments by Twisted H Designs. For each sale, the band receives $5. A variety of designs are available, including football, choir, golf, tennis, volleyball, softball, track, and more. Background colors, mascots, and other details can be customized so ornaments can be tailored to anyone on your Christmas list.
The band usually averages around 50 students for marching season. Craig wants to see the band continue its success, and keep students interested. Currently, Salem R-80 and North Wood R-IV are the only schools with band available for sixth through eighth grade students. A “second chance” band class is available at the high school for current students wanting to learn a new instrument, or students who are interested in band, but have never had the chance to learn.
“Our experienced kids lend a hand to those with less experience, so it works well,” said Craig.
If you are interested in donating funds to the band contact Hannah Harris or Aimee Wilmont; checks can be made to Salem Band Parents Organization.
