The Grand Rapids Marching Band, a co-curricular program that functions as both a class and an extracurricular activity, is competing at the 22nd Annual Youth In Music Marching Band Championships at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, grandrapidsmn.com reported.
Band director Dale Gunderson, in his 33rd year, told the publication the program is unique because students participate during the school day but also compete from April through October. About 140 students currently participate, down from a pre-pandemic projection of 176 but recovering from a drop into the 130s, according to Gunderson.
The program includes marching band, jazz band, pep band, drumline and color guard. Gunderson credited middle school directors Anissa Grotjohn and Dave Myers, plus assistant high school director Sander Grotjohn, with preparing students who feed into the high school from Robert J. Elkington Middle School and St. Joseph’s Catholic School.
Gunderson said the program relies heavily on student leadership, with drum majors attending a leadership academy. Show designers based in Dallas, Oklahoma City and Indianapolis create annual productions involving roughly 8.5 minutes of musical performance.
Transportation costs reach tens of thousands of dollars per season because Grand Rapids is the only competitive marching band in northern Minnesota, the publication reported.
For more information, visit grandrapidsmn.com.