Jacksonville High School’s marching band has enjoyed a powerful start to the new football season. Having already performed their first halftime show at the game on September 6th with the first half of their James Bond-themed field show, the Marching Crimsons are showing remarkable improvement over their performance the previous year. They’re playing with much more confidence and skill – and the audience’s reaction can attest to that.
While previous field shows have generally all consisted of four similarly themed songs, this year’s show contains five. The football season’s first home game included the hit “James Bond Theme,” as well as “For Your Eyes Only/Goldfinger” and the percussion feature, “Tactical Instinct,” in its halftime show. Also played was the parade tune “Jai Ho,” of Slumdog Millionaire fame. A rendition of the modern “Skyfall,” as well as the medley “Die Another Day/Live And Let Die/James Bond Theme (reprise)” will be added before the band’s first field competition.
This is the band’s second season under direction of Mr. Matt Johnson, who began teaching instrumental music classes at JHS at the start of the 2012-2013 school year. When asked his opinion of the Marching Crimsons’ first performance, he noted that overall there have been several improvements since last year, and while there were “a few issues, [the band] ended up and made it through it, and it’s going to be much better as we go along.”
With senior Katie Shafer and sophomore Hayley Rockwell as its field commanders, the 65-member band also includes the Marching Crimsons Color Guard and Drumline, led by Rachel Mansell and Chip Davis respectively. Both groups perform not only during the football season, but year-round, at various events in Jacksonville as well as surrounding areas.