Band ends award-winning season with a twist

By DAWN SLADE
Mille Lacs County Times
Posted 8/1/02

The Milaca High School Marching Band season has ended. And the groupís successful season ended with a twist.

The marching band took first place at nearly every parade it participated in this summer, including first overall at Princeton and Albertville, taking the Peopleís Choice Award in Princeton; first place in their division at Benson, Winona, Red Wing, Foley and Alexandria. It won second place at the Wheels, Wings and Water Festival in St. Cloud.

The drum line, which was smaller this year than in the past years by about five-six members, received first place awards in Princeton, Alexandria and Red Wing.

The drum majors had a first place win in Princeton. And the color guard took first at both Princeton and Red Wing.

The theme for this yearís marching band was "The Lord of the Rings."

Band director Leon Sieve said, "I was very pleased with the season. The kids worked hard. It was one of our hottest seasons, in terms of heat and humidity.

"Even though we were a bit smaller, the kids maintained the quality and pushed the level of performance. They stepped up to the plate and helped create an exciting show - one Iím sure theyíll remember."

Shortly after the season ended, Sieve announced heís leaving Milaca High School for Rosemount.

Some students were upset that Sieve waited until after the season ended, but Sieve said, "I felt it was more important for the kids to enjoy Alexandria [last parade] than dwell on me. I wanted them to have the focus of the day. Besides, I had just received the offered and hadnít made a decision at that point."

Students

Jenna Hemstad has been involved with marching band for seven years. She graduated in June and plans to attend Concordia College-Moorhead in the fall.

Hemstad was in the color guard this year and has played clarinet and drums in previous years.

"I really enjoyed it. It was a lot of fun. We worked really hard," Hemstad said of the band.

Hemstad said she really liked the performance this year and added, "I think we probably worked together, and worked harder in wanting to win. I think it gets better every year."

Ryan Richter, also a 2002 graduate, has been in marching band for five years, playing the euphonium, which is like a small tuba.

Richter said of the season, "I think it went very well considering we were smaller than weíve been in the past."

The past few seasons the band has had roughly 120 members, this yearís group had approximately 100 members.

Richter plans to attend St. Scholastica in Duluth this fall.

Color guard captain Jessica Cramer said the season went well, especially with such a young group of students in the color guard.

"It went really well, I thought. The color guard worked very hard," Cramer said.

Cramer is a 2002 graduate and plans to attend Bemidji State this fall with an emphasis in music.

Parents

There is a lot of practice, time and preparation that goes into the marching bandís performances. And itís not just the students who are involved in marching band. There are parents who are heavily involved as well.

Dean Angermeierís son Ryan, who will be a junior this fall, plays bass drum in band. Dean and his wife, Donna, have helped the band by driving the van and trailer, loaded with equipment, to all the parades.

Donna said of the season, "I think it went really well. The kids were really well-behaved. We had a good time, despite the humid, hot weather. The kids all worked together."

Dean agreed and said, "It was probably one of the most successful seasons theyíve had. The kids were really energetic and worked really hard, especially with the heat.

Dean said heís "an old marching band person," spending six years in marching band and is currently a member of Milacaís alumni band.

"Itís fun to come back as a parent and work with the group. Leon gets the kids to present themselves better than a lot of the other schools," Dean added.

Sherie Billingsí daughter, Kristi, has been a drum major the past two years, and played trumpet in the band prior to that.

Sherie has been involved in the marching band program for eight years. And since her son, Mitch, currently plays drums in the band, she has about three more seasons to go.

"I think they did a really good job. They had great improvement throughout the season. I think the kids took a lot of pride in their work," Sherie said of the group.

Molly Johnson has two children in marching band. Her son Eric plays trumpet and will be a junior this year. And her daughter Keirsa was a drum major who graduated this past June.

Johnson said of the band, "The season was marvelous. It was such an innovative show. The kids, especially the younger kids, did such a great job on getting up to speed with the competitive marching.

"It was really fun talking with parents in other districts at parades. Some people came to the parades just to see what Milaca would do," Johnson said.

"Itís such a different kind of activity - itís out of the norm. And itís been so much fun seeing the kids progress and the discipline and the pride it gives them. Winning is the icing on the cake.

"Iíve seen what it can do for kids and, in a sense, itís put Milaca on the map," Johnson added.

Saying good-bye

After eight years, Sieve will no longer be directing the marching band and both the parents and band members are sad to see him go.

Johnson said she had a number of people from different schools at parades say things like, "We love your band director, youíre so fortunate to have him in your district."

Dean Angermeier said, "Leon has a lot to be proud of. As parents, weíre going to miss him a great deal. The kids are a little curious as to whatís going to happen next year."

Sherie Billings said of Sieve, "Heís going to be missed and heíll be hard to replace, but I think the kids will pull together."

And though heís not directly affected by Sieve leaving, Richter said he feels bad for the rest of the band members.

"He was a really good director. It wasnít that much of a surprise. I think heís always had larger goals and I donít think anyone could expect him to stay here forever. We were lucky to have him as long as we did," Richter added.

Sieve said, "Itís been a hard decision, and tough to leave such wonderful kids and a great program. I know that the kids will do everything in their power to maintain the quality of the program."