The AGHS Marching Band has existed for years. However, it is much different than it was 10 years ago. The band is much smaller and interest has decreased over the years, but student’s love for music is unwavering.
Students find that Marching Band can be rough, but AGHS’s new band director Matthew Barcus does his best to create a fun and welcoming environment.
“My goal for the Marching Band is to make a safe space for the students, while bringing an atmosphere of excellence in everything we do,” Barcus said. “I want us to work hard and see success by improving every day, and at every competition.”
Despite the competitive nature of marching band and the hard work put into practice and halftime shows, some students feel that there isn’t enough recognition given.
“My sophomore year we got a quarter of a page [in the yearbook],” marching band member Jazzmine Munguia (‘25) said.
In the 2022-2023 AGHS yearbook, football alone had four pages, while the Marching Band had one page and Color Guard had half a page. In the 2023-2024 AGHS yearbook, Color Guard went from half a page to only a quarter of the page, and in neither year was the Marching Band included in the Fall Sports section.
“I consider [Marching Band] a sport because people consider golf a sport,” Munguia said. “With golf, they swing [a golf club] and get scores, and we march and play and we get scores. I think they’re pretty parallel.”
Despite the struggle with recognition, the AGHS Marching Band is not completely ignored. Along with other sports at AGHS, banners are put up for Marching Band seniors in the bleachers. Although the Marching Band is not present at every sports game, the national anthem recording played at home games was performed by the AGHS Marching Band.
“[The national anthem] is important for our kids. The guys on the football team appreciate how [the band] plays,” AGHS Varsity Football coach Michael Hartman said. “We go to other schools, and I’ve heard our [players say] after their band plays a national anthem, ‘Our band’s better than that.’”
A lot of work goes into marching band—from new costumes for Color Guard to new music for the Band’s field show. Along with two hours of practice every week on Tuesdays and Thursdays after school.
“I know how hard [Band] works,” Hartman said. “We’re out here in the summer before school, and [Band] is out here working as well, so I appreciate all the effort that they put in.”
Marching Band plays a role in more than just the halftime shows. Band participates in competitions, the Harvest festival, Christmas parades, and is a part of the atmosphere during Friday night Varsity Football games. Students and staff involved with Band hope the legacy continues on.
