By Brogan Hennesy
Mahomet-Seymour, as well as the rest of the world, have made hard sacrifices during the 2020 Covid-19 Pandemic. Changes and cancellation have made life difficult to navigate.
The Mahomet-Seymour Marching Band had to cancel their competitive season. For a time, there was only hope that the band could even connect with each other.
But, since mid-July, students have been doing the best they can to be a part of the marching band. This includes upholding the traditions that have grown accustomed to the marching band experience.
“Many of the traditions of the Marching Band have been around since the mid-eighties,” says co-director Michael Stevens, who in his 28 years in the program has never had a season like this year. “Although they have metamorphosed over the years, Band Camp, the Allerton Retreat, the Senior Walk, Senior Speeches, Senior Night Festivities, the Indoor Band Concert, competitions like the University of Illinois competition, section leaders, and big band trip performances like the Fiesta Bowl Parade have been important parts of the marching band experience.”
Of course, some of these traditions aren’t possible with in today’s world, but that is not stopping the Bulldogs from trying. Rehearsals still took place this year, though they were a diluted form of what they usually are.
“Rehearsals have been reduced in time and separated by sections,” says Stevens. “In a normal season the band would rehearse 7 hours a week for 10 weeks. This year we will have rehearsed a total of 13 hours for the whole season. Additionally the woodwinds, brass, and percussion all practiced separately until the final week.”
“Marching Band has been a lot different this year because normally we practice three times a week…” says senior Ella Tietz, a trombonist in the band. “We [usually] have football games on Fridays and competitions on Saturdays, so it has been a lot less of a time commitment because this year we only practiced once a week and we had no competitions or football games.”
But, Tietz is glad to have been a part of the experience.
In order to unite the band, traditions took a new form this year. “The seniors also get the chance to make a ‘senior speech’, which is basically a speech you can make outlining what marching band has taught you, about funny stories or memories, and shoutouts.” Tietz says.
“Many of the traditions, outside competitions and football games, have still been able to happen this year, such as band sweatshirts and T-shirts,” says parent and Music Booster President Meg Loven. “Usually the shirt theme focuses on the marching band program, but this year the design shows our Bulldog Mascot wearing a mask, and the quote on the back reminds us of the inspiration that music provides.”
Music Booster Treasurer Jill Tompkins has a senior and a freshman in the band this year, and has taken part in keeping spirits alive.
“I think we have all tried to be as supportive and creative as possible in maintaining some of the traditions,” Tompkins says.
“We were able to take photos of the seniors in their uniforms and provide photo buttons for them. The sections made sure that each senior received a gift and we also provided a meal for all band members at the last practice.”
Mahomet-Seymour students are known to be tough competitors in both athletics and academics, and it takes responsibility and fierce determination to be a Bulldog.
“A major responsibility I have had is being a section leader since my junior year of high school,” says Senior Jacob Tester. “It has changed quite a bit, because we have had barely any time to work with our sections.”
“Seeing my friends during band, and around school has helped me greatly in staying Bulldog Strong,” Tester says. “I’m also just happy that we were able to have a marching band this year, and that we’ve been able to pull it off.”
“Despite everything that has happened, it has been really great to see people step up and try even though there’s no score,” says Ella Tietz. “ And we don’t really have any practices, but everyone has really improved from the beginning of the season and it has just been really great to see that improvement and everyone’s attitude has been really positive.”
Meg Loven is proud to be a parent in a state-known band full of aspiring musicians.
“This strong tradition has been maintained for years and continues to be an impressive draw for many families to the Mahomet area,” Loven says “I’m happy to be able to support our students and directors in their efforts.”
The Mahomet-Seymour marching band ended their 2020 season with brass, winds and percussion together in a late afternoon performance on the practice field on Oct. 15. Parents surrounded the field while each class took the field to showcase the 13 charts they learned in “An American in Paris” (Pandemic Edition).
The Bulldogs will finish what they began in the fall of 2021 without this year’s senior class.
Stevens told the seniors prior to their final group performance on the 15th:
“You’ve been an intregal part of what we’ve done here over the last four years. I wish that I could have sent you off in a little more exciting manner, but you guys know from our senior walk the other day, you know how Mr. (Phil) Myer and I feel about what you’ve done. Regardless of what you do from here on out, continue being leaders, continue being trend-setters, and for the rest of this year be good mentors to people who are younger than you coming up to your positions. It’s really important.”
