By JOHN EBY
Dowagiac Daily News

NILES – For Dowagiac’s Chieftain Marching Band, which carded a Division I, or excellent, rating, each of Director C.J. Brooks’ first two years, police met the buses and equipment truck on M-51 South, activated the lights and escorted them through a red light to Union High School with sirens wailing.

“I can’t be prouder of this group,” Brooks said amidst the bedlam as two buses loaded to leave Niles.

With 35 freshmen “to step up like they did” turned what could have been a rebuilding year into a reloading year.

“My veterans (11 seniors) took on leadership. I can’t be prouder. I’m so happy,” Brooks said. “And we’ve got 61 sixth graders” coming down the pike.

Band members for the first time elected a president, Keyra Salas.

She “represents the student body at things like Band Boosters meetings,” he said. “If there are issues in the band, I tell the kids, ‘Talk to your president first,’ so there aren’t 70 kids coming up to me and Mr. Hubbell.”

“This is a sign of Dowagiac becoming a great band,” said elated senior Drum Major Megan Corey, who last weekend was crowned Homecoming queen.

“I don’t think it will be our best performance – we have more to do – but it was amazing and definitely the best we’ve done. We’re going to keep improving.”

The commanders accepted their trophy at Niles High School football stadium Wednesday night with a full salute, flourishes and all.

“We debated the whole time,” Megan said, “because everybody else did the basic salute. This is our first competition, then we head out to Allegan. I’m so excited!”

Niles hosted 13 bands Oct. 7 for the annual District 6 Southwestern Michigan Band and Orchestra Association (SWMBOA) Marching Band Festival.

Dowagiac Chieftain
Marching Band – I

Director: C.J. Brooks, assisted by Alex Hubbell.
Drum majors: JoJo Pickar, Megan Corey and Courtney Klann.
Class B – 75 personnel.
Design staff: Mark Heather, drill designer; Keri Schuler, color guard instructor; and Randal Ripley, percussion instructor.
Program: opera “Carmen” by George Bizet, arranged by Saucedo, including “Habanera,” “Flower Song” and “Toreador Song.”

Niles High School
Marching Band – I

Director: Steven Gruver, assisted by Christina Gibson and Keith Hiscott.
Drum majors: Meg Hein and Emily Mills.
Class B – 119 personnel.
Design staff: Mark Heather, drill designer; Michael Brown, music arranger; Ashley Rae Martin, color guard instructor; and Keith Hiscott, percussion instructor.
Program: “Movie Music of Danny Elfman,” including “Spider Man,” “Nightmare Before Christmas,” “Beetlejuice” and “Ice Dance.”

Pride of Brandywine
Marching Band – II

Director: Sarah Bopp.
Commanders: Kayla Gaynier and Lena Miles.
Class D – 25 personnel.
Design staff: Jeffrey Bopp, drill designer; and Cliff Reppart, percussion instructor.
Program: “Pictures at an Exhibition” by Modest Mussorgsky, arranged by Mike Story and featuring “Promenade,” “The Hut on Fowl’s Legs” and “Great Gate of Kiev.”

Edwardsburg High
School Marching Band – I

Directors: Tom Crowner and Spencer White.
Commanders: Ashley Chambers and Elizabeth Reese.
Class B – 85 personnel.
Design staff: Mark Heather, drill designer; Jay Dawson and Tom Wallace, music arrangers; Emily Nannfeldt, color guard instructor; Becky Ditto and Oscar Azevedo, percussion instructors; and Christina Roback, Colin Weber, Tommy Drew, Ryan Noe and C.J. Brooks, wind instructors.
Program: “Hopes and Dreams,” featuring the music of Joseph Curiale, Johns Barnes-Chance, Ron Nelson and Karl Jenkins.

Lakeshore Lancer
Marching Band – I

Director: Lori Von Koenig, assisted by Phil and Cindy Huff.
Commanders: Elise Von Koenig, Sean McDowell and Sarah Klug.
Class A – 172 personnel.
Design staff: music arranging/composing, Mary Willman, wind arrangements; Ronald Hull, frontline percussion arrangements; Lori Von Koenig, Phil Huff, Cindy Huff, C. David Bass, Emily Cox, John Murphy and Rich Bressler, wind instruction; Alvin King, Ronald Hull, Chris Guthrie and Mark Guthrie, percussion instruction; Joey Orefice and Erin Dreese-Jaffe, visual design; Lori Von Koenig, Phil Huff, Cindy Huff, Joey Orefice, Emily Cox, John Murphy and Rich Bressler, marching instruction; and Erin Dreese-Jaffe and Kristen Huff, auxiliary instruction.
Program: “Fiesta” (Dawn of the Dead), including: Symphonic Dances No. 3 by Clifton Williams; La Fiesta Mexicana by H. Owen Reed; and The Ride by James Horner.

Ranger Pride
Marching Band,
Cassopolis – II

Director: Elisabeth Goodear.
Commanders: Robert Moore and Steven Butler.
Class D – 26 personnel.
Design staff: Chris Anderson, drill designer; Paul Murtha, music arranger; Ashley Rae Martin, color guard instructor; and Bryan McNeary, percussion instructor.
Program: “The Music of Kiss,” including “Rock and Roll All Nite,” “Beth/Detroit Rock City” and “Shout It Out Loud.”

Buchanan HIgh School
Marching Band – II

Director Eric Olson.
Commander: Becca Kastner.
Class C – 56 personnel.
Design staff: Mark Heather, drill designer; and Jessica Hawks, color guard instructor.
Program: “Apollo 13” by Horner, arranged by Sweeney; “As Time Goes By” by Hupfeld, arranged by Higgins; and “Forrest Gump Suite” by Silvestri, arranged by Bocook.

Benton Harbor Tiger
Marching Band – II

Director: James D. Jones.
Commanders: Jeremiah Clay and Jameisha Jones.
Class A: 90 personnel.
Design staff: James D. Jones, drill designer and music arranger; Louis Krajecki, color guard instructor; Paula Maggar, pom pom instructor; and Shannon Harris, percussion instructor.
Program: “El Matador,” J. Jones; “PYT,” Q. Jones, R. Temperton and M. Jackson, arranged by J. Jones; “Lady in My Life,” Q. Jones and M. Jackson, arranged by J. Jones; and “Thriller” dance mix, arranged by J. Jones.

Berrien Springs High
School Marching Band – I

Director: Ruth Livengood.
Commanders: Alex Spear and Shane Oakley.
Class B – 45 personnel.
Design staff: Mark Heather, drill designer; Jay Dawson, music arranger; Susan Roth, color guard instructor; and Eric Oliphant, percussion instructor.
Program: “Cirque du Soleil: La Nouba,” including “Distorted,” “Reve Rouge,” “Al la Lurie” and “Urban,” all by Benoit Jutras and arranged by Jay Dawson.

Spirit of Bridgman
Marching Band – I

Director: Cliff Reppart.
Commander: Nicole Pike.
Class D – 31 personnel.
Design staff: Joe Reimann, drill designer; Ashley Rae Martin, color guard instructor; and Mike List, percussion instructor.
Program: “Magnificent Seven” by Bernstein, “How the West was Won” by Newman and “Silverado” by Broughton, all arranged by Mike Story.

River Valley High
School Marching Band – I

Director: Robert Hay.
Commander: Shelby Francis.
Class D – 43 personnel.
Design staff: Dave Armbruster, drill designer; Bocook, Murtha, Dawson and Sweeney, music arrangers; Kelly Hay, color guard instructor; and Evan Pauken, percussion instructor.
Program: “Farandole” by Bizet, “Chorale from Jupiter” by Holst, “Hall of the Mountain King” by Dawson and “New World Symphony” by Dvorak.

New Buffalo High
School Band – I

Director: Christina Roback.
Commanders: Jenna Wojdula and Natalie Blackwood.
Class D – 45 personnel.
Design staff: Spencer White, drill designer; Jennifer Fiero, color guard instructor; and Colin Weber, percussion instructor.
Program: “Mission Impossible” arranged by Michael Sweeney, “Secret Agent Man” arranged by Johnnie Vinson, “Soul Bossa Nova” arranged by Dan Havely, “Pink Panther” arranged by Ralph Ford and “Live and Let Die” arranged by Mike Story.

Director: Denise Lewis, who also designed the drill.
Command personnel: Kelsey Jackson and Amanda Lammon, drum majors, and Natasha Zimmerman, field commander.
Program: “Decades,” including “Don’t Fear the Reaper,” “Addicted to Love” and “Enter Sandman,” all arranged by Paul Murtha, and “Viva la Vida,” arranged by Michael Brown.