LR Marching Band earns Gold Standard Award

On Saturday, May 21, Lind-Ritzville seventh through twelfth grade Marching Band performed in the Spokane Lilac Festival Armed Forces Torchlight Parade. The band earned the Gold Standard Award for the first time in the history of their participation in the parade.

Although the students in the band perform in front of approximately 160,000 as they traverse the streets of downtown Spokane, only three determine their aptitude for the Gold Standard Award.

This year, judges included member of Spokane Jazz Orchestra Craig Landron, Directors of Bands at Eastern Washington University (EWU) Don Goodwin and former Director of Bands at EWU Patrick Winters.

Each judge is responsible for observing the bands in a different category, including (among others) rhythm, musicality, ensemble skills, percussion, individual and ensemble technique, spirit, and overall audience appeal. Bands must meet “standard” in eight of 11 categories to achieve the Gold Standard Award.

Dave Weatherred, Lilac Band Chairman, wrote in a letter to all band directors participating in the Lilac Parade, “There are a limited number of medals that can be given out, so… all will truly be competing against the other bands. Last year a little more than a third of our bands in the parade received the Gold Standard Award, which included bands and schools of all sizes.”

Sixty bands marched in this year’s Lilac Parade. Lind-Ritzville Marching Band was one of 22 schools to receive the Gold Standard Award on Saturday. Along with Reardan High School, they were the only Bi-County school to do so.

Regarding their achievement, band director Jennifer York said, “I feel that everyone took the parade seriously this year. If you look at the video from KHQ you can see pride in the steps of the students.”

While the quantity of the band this year was larger than previously (70 students marched and two were drum majors), York attributes the award to many factors.

She explained, “Having us in rows of seven helped with turns. The quality of music we played had to be one of the major factors. ‘Brass Explosion’ really showed off our abilities as a band.”

Leadership played an important role in the band’s success as well.

“I also think that having students with experience helped,” York added. “The more experienced students have not only marched before, but have improved each year; they share their love of marching band down through the younger students.”

Michael Carruth, senior at LRHS, completed his fourth turn as drum major.

He said, “Being a Drum Major is a big responsibility. As Drum Major, it is my duty to ensure the band keeps in order and fulfills to the best of their ability. I mess up, the whole band also can mess up so it teaches me to have a sense of duty.”

“It’s not just about me, but the band as a whole,” Carruth continued.

Carruth was joined by first year drum major Sharon Anderson: “One thing that I think made us better because of the fact it was different was our band’s size this year. That definitely makes a difference in the sound and overall confidence in the look of our band.”

Each student favors something a little bit different about marching band season, proving that passion is widespread among band members.

Caden Liberty enjoys the preparation, as he explained, “My favorite part is when the middle school and high school come together for combined practice to see what everyone has already accomplished, then getting to put us together and see what the group will look like in the parades.”

“My favorite part of the Lilac Parade,” Megan Buriak said, “is playing a song for hundreds of people that I don’t know.”

In addition to the students’ appreciation of the experience, the Gold Standard Award has validated their efforts.

Anderson said, “It’s awesome that we made standard this year, thus making history for our band and setting a new goal for our band for the coming years, now that we know we are capable of getting standard. It takes a lot of hard work and dedication for every one of our band members to be in marching band and seeing that makes me proud.”

“For the first time, we’ve accomplished Gold Standard,” Carruth finished. “We worked hard, what’s not to be proud of?”