Marching Band - Building Community Year After Year
Around the District, teens are enjoying the final weeks of summer break. However, several hundred students returned early to participate in band camp. During this week, new and old members of the schools’ marching bands gather to work on a variety of tasks including musicianship, choreography, marching, and team-building. As soon as the school year begins, these students will spend additional hours rehearsing finely coordinated performances and competitions all while bolstering the spirit of their respective schools.
SHS Senior Charley Bromley has been a member of the Saxon band for the past four years.
Schaumburg High School senior, and drumline member Charlie Bromley has been a member of the Saxon Marching Band for four years. He said the camaraderie is one thing that keeps bringing people back.
“Everyone in the band feels like this is a family,” Bromley said. “Our motto is ‘From Many, One,’ so we come together to make one collective community.”
The feeling of community is something shared by students in all District 211 marching bands whether they are returning or taking their first steps into the program.
“The people and community around here keeps me coming back every year,” said Conant High School junior, and drum major, Meghan Kozakis. “I really enjoy the time we spend together performing and hanging out together during games.”
Siblings Robbie and Ellie Labowicz moved to Palatine after having lived in Ireland for the past two years. For them, hearing stories of marching band from their mother, a former band director, compelled them to join the Pirate Marching Band.
“She did marching band in high school and college, so it was always a no-brainer that we were going to go back and do marching band,” said Ellie, a sophomore flute player.
“I was a bit on the fence about joining band,” Robbie, a junior trumpet player admitted. “So far, it’s been great. I like the social aspect of it. It has helped me acclimate back into high school here.”
Marching Band Camp 2026
In some cases, students admit they are surprised by the almost overwhelming and rapid growth of community and companionship built among the members of the marching band.
“I was surprised how close the people in this activity are compared to other activities and how warm the community is,” said Fremd sophomore saxophone player Riya Nayak. “That helpful community is what brought me back this year.”
Fremd sophomore Riya Nayak is in her second year with the Viking band
One thing that some students feel is overlooked is the physical intensity of marching band.
“I love percussion,” Calvin Worst, a junior member of the Viking Marching Band drumline said, “But, as a freshman, I wasn’t prepared for how intense it was. I didn’t think it was going to be that physically demanding.”
Palatine color guard captain and senior Charlie Landwehr said that she believes an often overlooked aspect is the non-musical side of marching band.
“I think a lot of people think that if they don’t have musical talent, you can’t be a part of this,” she said. “That’s why color guard and cheer are such an important part. It’s not just the music, it’s the art that makes this work.”
The decision to join band is something students can sometimes be undecided about. Hoffman Estates junior euphonium player Brooke Black said that it is worth it for a variety of reasons.
“If you are on the fence, I would say do it,” Black said. “It helps with literacy, and it’s honestly such a flex to say ‘I play an instrument,’ and it not be something people would generally expect.”