Octorara Junior-Senior High School hosted a band camp from Aug. 8 to 11, where members of the marching band spent time preparing for their performance in upcoming parades.

Practice during the week, led by band director Scott Cullen, was generally held from 1 to 9 p.m. each day, with a break for dinner.

"Our theme this year will be the same as it has been every year. The Octorara High School band honors the tradition of the American band by actively performing traditional marches in a variety of parades," Cullen stated. "Our selections for the 2022-23 school year include 'The Washington Post March' by John Philip Sousa and 'Peacemaker March' by Karl L. King."

In addition to the musicians, the band includes a color guard and drumline, along with featured twirlers, coached by Tammy Russell. "Band camp is an opportunity for team building," said Russell, owner of Russell's Dance and Baton Studio in Parkesburg.

Along with rehearsing indoors during the intense summer heat, the band members headed outdoors onto the football field in the later hours of the day so they could practice marching.

While the band does present a brief program at the homecoming football game, it mainly is featured in local and regional parades. "Our main objective is to perform in parades," Cullen said, noting that the band performs in the Solanco, Ephrata and New Holland parades and the Parkesburg Halloween Parade, as well as the high school's homecoming parade.

Prior to the pandemic, the band also marched in the Veterans Day parade held at the Coatesville Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center, the West Chester Christmas Parade and the Downingtown Christmas Parade. "On average, we are in about eight parades," Cullen noted.

In 2021, the Octorara marching band was the second-place winner in the Ephrata Parade and won first-place recognition for its drum major. In the New Holland Parade, the band received awards for Most Outstanding Band Front, Best Sounding Band and Most Outstanding Drum Major. Octorara was also named the 2022 Honor Band.

During practice on Aug. 9, Cullen explained to the musicians the difference between the two featured pieces. "(Regarding) 'The Washington Post March,' we already know this piece is generally a lot more chipper. Overall, it's a happier tune than 'Peacemaker,' which has a bit of heaviness to it," he stated. "This tends to be a bit lighter. The intro should be nice and bold."

He also encouraged the musicians to play cohesively. "It's not what you say but how you say it. We want to make sure that we are all saying it the same way," he told the students. "When we say it the same way, we can play softly outside, but it will sound more powerful because you are all unified. That's why we wear uniforms. We look the same and want to sound the same, too."