It Takes 73

If someone would have told me at the beginning of my senior year that I would be a member of one of the world’s best amateur marching bands, I would have told them they were crazy. When I sent in my registration for the Kansas International Lions Band, I was expecting to work hard. I never expected that my two weeks as a member would be two of the best weeks in my life. 1

I had been a part of Kansas Lions Band my freshman year but as a part of the State Band. State Band is a concert band that rehearses for four days in the town the Lions State convention is and plays a concert as an event for the convention. Senior year I did both State and International. International Band is more intense but more fun. Those in International arrive to band camp two days earlier than everyone else to get a head start on their music and marching for the International Convention parade later in the summer. When State Band is in session, the International members use break times for further practice. The band reconvenes the week of International for final practices, to march in the parade, and to experience the city the rest of the week.2

I was nervous and excited at the same time when I, along with seventy two other members, arrived on the Hutchinson Community College Campus. I’ll never forget that first rehearsal. Our marching coach’s name was Doug Stemet, and he was tough! We spent an hour just practicing going to attention. I remember the first words he said to us: “You are not from Blue Valley West, or Norton Bands, or wherever any more. You are Kansas. You are going to be proud to BE Kansas.” I felt like I was in some sort of boot camp similar to those in the movies when the drill sergeant asks the recruits “Who is your daddy now?”3

Dana Hamant, who is the director for band at Wichita East, was our director. He had been directing the Kansas International Lions Band for twelve years. He informed us that we had a tough road ahead of us. Only three people in our band had gone to an international before, and compared to other bands we were relatively small. This band was going to have to work extra hard to live up to the Kansas Standard. The Kansas Standard was set by the band that was third in London and the 115 member Honolulu band (my sister was in this band) and was commissioned to play as part of the inauguration of the international president in 2000. 4

The Kansas Band was different from other bands that would be our competition. Most other bands from other states and countries had an audition process. We had none. Most other bands began rehearsing in January. We would have a total of eight days to prepare our song “In the Stone” by Earth, Wind, and Fire.5

At the State band concert, we got to play “In the Stone” so that everyone could hear what we were taking to Chicago with us. Dana told the audience that we were only at 40 percent of what we would sound like in Chicago. I shot a glance at the girl standing next to me. 40 percent? We only had two days of rehearsals before we would hit the street in Chicago, and those rehearsals were a month away!6

July 1st was when the band reconvened at the Wichita East High campus for an intense rehearsal. We were out there ALL DAY marching with breaks every hour and a half. Many people got sunburned, blistered feet, and sore backs. But none of us complained. We put on our uniforms and did a dress rehearsal for our families that evening. Dana said once more that now we were probably only at 75 to 80 percent. Murmurs went through the band. There was only one more day of rehearsal left.7

July 2 was our travel day. We took two charter buses to Chicago, which is a 10 hour drive. We finally arrived at our hotel at about 10:30 that night exhausted from travel. Dana informed us that we would need to be ready to leave the hotel at 7 sharp for rehearsal the next morning. Once more we began a grueling rehearsal day on July 3. More blisters, more burns, more soreness, but better sound and performance. It was really starting to come together. Hardly at any time during this rehearsal were we stopped for uneven lines or told to march straighter. Again there was disappointment when Dana said that we were only at 88 percent. The rest of the 12 percent had to come from us on the street the next day.8

July 4th was parade day. McCormick Place was the site of the convention, and where the parade route would end for us. The parade route was along Lakeshore Drive. Thousands of people were all at the head of the route awaiting their turn in line. We even saw the Mississippi band getting ready to go. Dana had said before that everyone loved the Kansas Band, but I thought he was just saying things. It’s true. I’ve never had so many foreign people want to take pictures with me just because I was from Kansas. They completely ignored Mississippi and Georgia. 9

Our sponsors began crowd control so that we could warm up. The drums rolled off the cadence, and Georgia’s band began dancing along. Right as soon as the drums rolled the beginning beat for “In the Stone”, Georgia became quiet. They just stood and stared at us with “Oh crap” expressions on their faces. As soon as we were done, it was time to hit the street. Our drum major called out attention, to which we all snapped upright and yelled “Hit!” And so began our march down the road.10

We owned that parade. People from everywhere were cheering the name Kansas and clapping. The drum major stopped us in front of the judges’ stand to play the song for what we thought would be our last time. We moved on into the tunnel under the convention center with the cadence still going. Dana and Doug thought that the sound was so awesome, that they had us play the song again. It was deafening! We passed the Kentucky band, and they were seriously awed. Their eyes were gaping and a few even had their jaws dropped. As soon as we got to the bus, we were jumping into each others arms and high fiving like there was no tomorrow.11

Two nights later, Dana called a meeting to inform us of the results. He explained that one of the judges had come up to him as we were playing and told him, “What a great looking band!” Dana went on to say that we should be proud because judges are not supposed to do that. He said we should be proud because we made history. The Chicago band was the second Kansas band to place at International, placing third. They only place to three, and the 73-member Kansas band was the only band under 100 members to place.12

Never in my life had I been so proud. I consider the fact that I was part of the 2007 Kansas International Lions Band a great honor. I made a ton of great friends and had the time of my life. I have never worked so hard and see it pay off so well. When faced with the adversity we had going in, we never gave up. Never have I been so proud to be labeled a band geek. Never have I been so proud to be from Kansas.13