The KHS indoor winds kicked off their competition season on Feb. 14 at Noblesville HIgh School, placing 1st.
This year’s show is about Amelia Earhart and her disappearance. The indoor winds directors have recently tried to plan their shows around one character for visual soloist Anna Becker to portray.
“Over the years, she has been a child caught in a nightmare, Red Riding Hood, Beethoven, and most recently an angelic departed loved one,” said director Justin Ekstrom. “Amelia is a well-known character that the audience can easily understand.”
This season is the 10th year the indoor winds ensemble has competed. Most notably, they are the three-time defending state champions.
“We are the three-time and defending Indiana Percussion Association Winds Scholastic A State Champion and are looking forward to winning our fourth consecutive title,” said senior Hayden Cummins.
While winning a fourth state title might be at the top of their goals list, members of the group created individual competitive and personal goals at the start of the season.
“Our primary goal each season is always to have a good time while creating the best product possible. Members created individual competitive and personal goals at the start of the season, so we also work to make sure the members have the support they need to reach those goals,” Ekstrom said.
For Ekstrom, it’s the little day-to-day things that have the most impact.
“With our recent success, it is easy to overlook just how much this organization has evolved since our first season in 2017,” he said. “I am looking forward to the little things – the student who accomplishes a difficult task for the first time; watching new leaders step up to replace members who graduated; reuniting with former members who helped us get to where we are today.”
Indoor winds will perform their show for the KHS community at the Performing Arts Winter Showcase in March.
The indoor percussion ensemble also started their season at Noblesville High school on Feb. 14. The group placed 5th in both of their competitions so far this season.
Their show this year is based on The Planets Suite by Gustav Hols and Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.
“On a basic level though it's a space-y theme,” said junior Ky Frank.
This year’s show is special for senior Miles Fairchild.
“I'm looking forward to the music. Holst is my favorite composer so getting to perform his music is always exciting to me,” he said.
The indoor percussion show is made up of three movements; they will perform the first movement at their first competition and add more as the season progresses.
The group’s goal for this season is to qualify for the state finals. If they can accomplish that, then Bryxon Powell thinks “it would be nice to win state.” The last time the KHS indoor percussion won a state title was a decade ago.
Indoor percussion will also perform their show during the Winter Showcase in March.