By Kathryn Rice

The Northeast Nodaway band will march again and its first performance is at 9 am, Saturday, October 29 at the Northwest Missouri State University Homecoming parade in Maryville.

  • Kayden Sybert, Delainey McIntyre, Chase Atkins and Justin Miller play while Blair Stoll keeps time with the bass drum.
  • Kirsten Morrow, Kami Adwell and Victoria Moran concentrate on their music.
  • NEN junior and senior high school students practice for the Northwest Homecoming Parade. The October 29 parade will be the band’s first competition of the year.

The band, under the direction of Amanda Ojeda, has spent the school year preparing for this competition. The young band of mostly seventh and eighth graders has only five high school students.

“I love marching band; it’s my favorite,” said Ojeda. As for starting the marching band again, Ojeda said, “the community voiced that they wanted to see it up and marching again. Hopefully, next year we’ll add more competitions to the list.”

Vanessa Riley, senior trumpet, said she enjoys competing in the spring solo competition. “It’s something I’m good at. I’ve always enjoyed music,” Riley said.

Ojeda, who has instructed the band for three years, said she is proud of all the students, but especially the eighth graders who have stepped into leadership roles. The band consists of 20 wind instrument players, three color guard members, one drum major and three percussionists.

“I get to interact with every section of instruments,” sophomore drum major Brittany Burns said of what she likes about band. “I can help one-on-one with everybody who needs it.”

The band will also give a Veterans Day performance later this semester, five members will attend the 275 Conference on November 7 and there will be a Christmas concert on December 15.

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