The Adair County High School marching band, a perennial state title contender, wrapped up its grueling two-week camp today, July 22.
The daily schedule consisted of visual marching techniques from 8 a.m. until 11:45 a.m. each day, and indoor music practice from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. For the second week, an additional daily session was added, from 5:30 p.m. until 8 p.m.
Director Jordan Humphress says his group of students, 65 strong ranging from grade seven through 12, kept positive attitudes and continued to work hard even through sometimes-scorching heat.
“This is the most exciting group that I’ve gotten the chance to work with,” says Humphress, now in his second year as director after four years in the assistant director position. “These students are very eager, they’re led by a great group of upperclassmen who are excited to lead by example, and I have really enjoyed this group a lot already.”
Adair advanced to state competition last year and finished third in Class AAA. While Humphress would undoubtedly like to add another state championship to Adair Band’s long, storied tradition, he says his group is focused solely inward.
“We have the same expectations that we have every single year,” he says. “We compete against ourselves and we look to create our own version of the Adair standard each and every year.”
Humphress is excited for this year’s show, titled “Invasion.” He believes that audiences are in for more than one surprise.
“’Invasion’ is a concept that’s going to allow our band to have a really large creative palate out on the field,” he says. “It’s going to start with our color guard, who are going to be our cyborgs. They have invaded this home area of the wind players, and it’s going to be easy to catch on with what’s happening on the field at the beginning, but as the show keeps going on, it’s a conversation of how the cyborgs are intertwining with the humans, which are our wind players and our percussion.”
The show aims to build tension as it progresses.
“As you keep going along, you can kind of see the control that the cyborgs have over the wind players,” Humphress explains. “I won’t give too much away, but we’ve got some really cool tricks up our sleeve as we go through the year that we think will take the audience by surprise.”
Humphress and his students are eager to get this season started and add to the band’s winning legacy. The director thanks the community for its support of his crew, including Bank of Columbia, who treated the students to popsicles and ice cream Thursday night at the conclusion of the night rehearsal.
“We want to say a big ‘thank you’ to Bank of Columbia for that,” Humphress says. “The kids absolutely enjoyed and appreciated it.”
Click here to see the pics from the band camp gallery first published yesterday, and check out more camp photos below.
