WHS Marching Band competes for divisional rating at State Marching Band Festival for first time in three decades ...

The Waukon High School Marching Indians marching band participated in the Iowa High School Music Association State Marching Band Festival Saturday, October 8 in Dubuque. This is the first time in over 30 years that the Marching Indians have participated in this festival for a divisional rating. Waukon High School Band Director Jo Ann Sherman said the band gave its best performance of the year and received a Division II (Excellent) rating for its efforts on the field that day. In order for students to participate in this festival for a rating, they had to memorize all their music along with the marching routine performed at halftime of Waukon Indian home football games.
Director Sherman commented, “We had a great marching band season. The weather was perfect for us to be able to be out on the practice field each day. The students came to camp in August knowing this was our goal. They learned a lot about the process of what it takes to attend a marching festival. The senior class has been working towards this for quite awhile. They provided great leadership to reach this goal. The underclassmen will have to now take their example for the years to come. Bailey Sherman, our drum major, did an awesome job serving as a second set of eyes for me on top of the ladder and pointing out areas where she could see corrections needed to be made.  That’s a tough job for a student leader to have to take on. The kids really put their ‘nose to the grindstone’ the last week and peaked at the right time. I’m so proud of them for reaching the goal of participating in the State Festival. We may not have received a Division I rating, but we needed to start from somewhere. We now can work to grow and improve for years to come.” Submitted photo.