INDIANAPOLIS — Everyone associated with the Montgomery County United Band waited anxiously Friday for the final results from the Indiana State Fair Band compeition to be released.
MCU members came to the competition that morning hoping for a top 10 finish. After competing in the first round, the band learned that afternoon they had scored high enough and would perform again that night in the finals.
At 10 p.m. the results were in, and when the announcer said, “In 10th place with 74.85 points ... Montgomery County United,” sounds of elation erupted throughout the band, directors and parents.
Directing the band, which draws from all three countyhigh schools, was Jon Tebbee, Elizabeth Newman and Andy Simpkins.
Simpkins said the Top 10 finish was the result of a lot of hard work by band members.
“At the start of the year I had a feeling this band was going to be special because there was just something about them,” Simpkins said. “The band met the challenge and rose above expectations.”
Earlier in the day, at 7 a.m., the band started a final tune up at Crawfordsville High School. Afterwards, they traveled to the Indianpolis fairground, where they attempted to remain cool in the humid 88-degree day, and played in the preliminaries at 11 a.m.
Excitement and expectations rose after finding out MCU had scored enough points to earn ninth place in the morning competition. Their high finish out of 37 bands gave MCU members hope they could best their previous high finish, which was 12th place in 2020.
Simpkins said the judges’ comments on the final score card showed the band earned high marks in the visual and marching formation aspects. He said generally the whole show, which Tebbee wrote the drill, was considered excellent by the judges.
All three band directors will now prepaire their respective high school bands for a new school year.
But, the break from MCU is short since the start of 2024 marching season will begin with planning in November and December.
“We honestly feel we will have a little larger band next year,” Simpkins said. “Success makes students want to be a part of the band. We are starting to build a pretty good legacy and kids are excited.”
Simpkins hopes the band can attract more participants in the color guard.
“We would like to see a few more members in the guard next year”, Simpkins said. “But we also believe we will have a decent number of newbies join us.”
“Placing in the Top 10 will fuel the fire to work towards improving,” Simpkins said.
MCU will be active with three programs during the school year. There will be the concert band named Winter Winds, which is for the purpose to keep band members playing together.
The MCU Winter Guard and Winter Percussion will both be competitive units that will compete against other groups throughout Indiana.
Simpkins thanked the community, high school administrators from Crawfordsville, North Montgomery and Southmont high schools and parents for their support of the band.
