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Kilbourne band hard at work on 'West Side Story' show

SNP photo by Dan Trittschuh
Members of the Worthington Kilbourne High School marching band practice on the field in front of the school during a summer band camp session Aug. 9. The band's contest show this year features music from West Side Story.
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By PAMELA WILLIS
Published: Tuesday, August 17, 2010 5:50 PM EDT
Worthington Kilbourne High School marching band members are trying to stay "real cool" through their music, despite the blazing temperatures during band camp this month.

Marching band director Phil Day said 60 students are marching this year for Kilbourne.

The band camp began with students practicing from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Aug. 9-13, and continuing this week from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily through Friday, Aug. 20.

"Last week was definitely a hot one, but the kids were great and worked extremely hard," Day said. "We worked our normal schedule, taking plenty of breaks and stressing proper hydration to our students."

Day said the goal of band camp is to "get a great start on the season."

"We start from square one each year with marching technique and continue to build on that throughout camp," he said. "We begin setting up our contest show on the field as well as having professionals on each instrument come in and work with the students on the music for the show."

He said the students also learn the pregame show and other music they'll perform at the home football games.

The contest show this year is music from West Side Story, including Cool, Maria, Mambo, One Hand One Heart, Somewhere and Tonight, Day said.

The band's first public performance will be at halftime Aug. 27, during the first home football game against Westerville North at the school, 1499 Hard Road.

Day said he wanted to thank the community for its generous support during the recent Tag Day fundraiser.

"We are always so pleased and thankful for the response we get from the community during this fundraiser," he said.

The Preview of Champions performance will be held at 5 p.m. Oct. 9 at Thomas Worthington High School, 300 W. Dublin-Granville Road, with both high schools and other area schools performing.

The marching band staff this year includes Brittany Harwood, assistant director; Mickey Courtright, percussion instructor; Matt Herriott, front ensemble instructor; and Jackie McCammon, woodwinds.

"We have a great group of seniors this year that has taken on the daunting task of helping to train this year's freshmen, which number exactly half of our total of 60 students," Day said.

Senior marching band leaders are Jennifer Anthony, Will Bishop, Melanie Groth, Melissa Haueisen, Danielle Hilty, Rachael Mains, Joe Perin, Stephanie Phillips and Jody Schwieterman.

 
 
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