You see them out on the field at half-time, or you may catch them performing at pep rallies. But do you really know much about the FCHS marching band and color guard? Here is a rundown of what’s behind their current production for the fall of 2024.

The Production
According to Band Director Sam Campbell, the band wanted to do something more literary this year for the theme of their half-time production, so they choose Edgar Allen Poe’s “The Tell-Tale Heart” as their inspiration. The famous poem focuses on the story of a man who comes to consider an old man’s eye to be “evil” and then blames it for his subsequent actions.

Band members collaborated to write the music, going with the flow to see what might fit with the “Tell-Tale Heart” theme until they had a score they were happy with.

Then it was time to start practicing the music and choreographing the marching part of the performance, as well as the coordinating color guard movements. Few realize just how long marching band and color guard have to practice a seasonal routine before it is ready to perform in public. In fact, the band began practicing the “Tell-Tale Heart” routine on May 30 and continued practicing it throughout the summer, including at their mandatory all-day, three-week summer camp in July.

According to color guard member Saige Miller, “The hardest part of being in marching band is marching, counting, and doing choreography all at the same time. But after it all comes together, it’s definitely worth it.”

The Costumes
During the production, band members wear their traditional band uniform: a navy blue long-sleeved jacket with pants, featuring a white gradient and yellow accents on the front, along with emblems of a Fluco “F” on either shoulder. The color guard, on the other hand, begins the show in a black velvet top with sparkles, along with black leggings and gloves. To mimic one of the themes of the poem, the power of unconscious guilt, color guard members put on a red hood in the middle of the show.

The Competitions
The marching band’s first competition was in the 1A class at James Madison University (JMU) in Harrisonburg on Oct. 5, competing against 11 other marching bands of a similar size around the state.

“The season is actually going a lot better than we were expecting. We placed 5th at JMU,” said junior and band member Cadence Goodnight.

The band will have four other competitions to compete in this season, leading them into November.