Story By Crystal Hayduk, Slideshow by Alan Ashley
It’s a year of new beginnings for the Chelsea High School (CHS) Marching Band.
Following 2020—a year of opportunities lost to the COVID-19 pandemic—the band has three goals for 2021: have fun, be productive, and be enthusiastic.
Students are well on their way to meeting those goals as they gather in the CHS parking lot for their annual band camp August 2-6, their smiles reflecting the sun during a week of building community in the fresh air.
Alison Roberts, director of bands, is excited about the opportunity band camp provides for students to grow as musicians and to learn new music to perform together. “The theme for our show this year is ‘Let the sunshine in,’” she said. “After the last year of music classes not being able to make much music together in person, we wanted our show to beam positivity.”
Featuring among a wide variety of music will be “Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In” (1969), recorded by The 5th Dimension; “Mr. Blue Sky” (1977), recorded by Electric Light Orchestra; “You Are the Sunshine of My Life” (1972), written and recorded by Stevie Wonder; and “Walking on Sunshine” (1983), written by Kimberley Rew for Katrina & the Waves.
Camp leaders and coaches are a combination of returning staff, CHS band alumni, and University of Michigan music education students. “Our new drumline and front ensemble director, Anthony DeMartinis, is also the assistant director of the University of Michigan drumline,” said Roberts.
This year’s senior drum majors Ava Woodard and Clinton Nichols are joined by eleventh grader Mikaila Leonard. They assist Roberts, conduct, and call marching commands; they also guide and inspire younger band students.
But band camp isn’t all hard work and rehearsal. Junior band members Julia Hanselman and Molly Sobiechowski said the students participate in plenty of activities and “games of friendly competition.”
Nichols said the students are especially excited to be together again after a difficult pandemic year.
“Being able to see smiles is the highlight of 2021 so far,” said Sobiechowski. “Chelsea pride is back.”
“We’re in good spirits and ready to share music with the community,” said Hanselman.
Roberts shared the students’ enthusiasm. “I am so excited to get to know the Chelsea community this year,” she said. “Even though it’s my second year in the district, in a lot of ways I’m experiencing the marching season for the very first time. I am so proud of the students for sticking through a tumultuous year of school. We are going to accomplish amazing things together in our upcoming season.”
Mark your calendars for these special upcoming marching band events:
Aug. 27 – First home football game vs. Trenton High School – 7 p.m. at Jerry Niehaus Field.
Aug. 28 – Chelsea Fair Parade – 1 p.m. (Route: west on E. Middle St. starting at S. East St. to south on Main St. to west on Old U.S. 12 ending at Old Manchester Rd.)
Sept. 24 – Homecoming game vs. Adrian High School – 7 p.m. at Jerry Niehaus Field.
Sept. 29 – Marching Band Exhibition – Gates open at 4 p.m. at Jerry Niehaus Field.
Oct. 15 – Marching Band Senior Night – CHS vs. St. Joseph High School – 7 p.m. at Jerry Niehaus Field. [Sidebar ends]
Band director’s thank-yous:
Chelsea School District’s administrative team for their support of band camp.
Lisa Leonard, band volunteer coordinator, for her hours of help during the last few weeks; as well as other band family volunteers.
The following restaurants for providing lunch for band camp: Smokehouse 52 BBQ, Jet’s Pizza, Jimmy John’s, Panda Express, and Cottage Inn.
