The Lakota West Marching Firebirds were named Grand Champion at the Forest Hills Instrumental Music Association 35th annual “Band Expo” at Anderson High School last Saturday.
Lakota West Marching Firebird field commanders Meagan Dembicky, Julie Green, Marcus Moore and Tristan McPhail accepting awards, including Grand Champion, at the Forest Hills Instrumental Music Association 35th Annual “Band Expo” at Anderson High School on Oct. 20, 2012. Photo provided.
The Marching Firebirds, 260 members strong, have been named Grand Champion at all four competitions they attended this fall where a Grand Champion title was awarded.
They were also named Grand Champion at the Perkins High School North Coast Festival in Sandusky, the Hamilton High School 36th annual “Band-O-Rama” in Hamilton and at the Troy High School 32nd annual “Trojan Invitational” in Troy.
In addition to being named Grand Champion at the “Band Expo” at Anderson High School, Lakota West also received awards for 1st Place Class AA, Best Auxiliary Class AA, Best Percussion Class AA, Best Marching Overall, Best Music Overall and Best General Effect Overall.
In November of 2013, the Lakota West Marching Firebirds will be marching in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade in New York City. The Marching Firebirds were one of 11 bands chosen out of the more than 150 marching bands that applied to march in the parade.
The next opportunity to see the Marching Firebirds perform will be this Friday night, along with the Lakota East Marching Thunderhawks, at halftime of the Lakota East at Lakota West football game (game begins at 7:30 p.m.).
The majority of the operating cost for both of Lakota’s marching bands is funded through the students’ participation fees and money raised by their booster partner, the Upbeat Club, with the district providing a small percentage of the costs.
For more information about the Lakota West Marching Firebirds visit lakotawestbands.org.
