This Saturday, Oct. 10, Knightpride will be hosting Music in Motion, an annual competition held at FHN. Marching bands from FHC, Fort Zumwalt North, Fort Zumwalt East, Fort Zumwalt South, Winfield, and Lafayette will be competing, however FHN will not. Knightpride will be using the Music in Motion competition as a fundraiser, using the money from entry fees and concessions to help pay for equipment and other expenses.

“I’m looking forward to seeing the real differences between hosting and being in the competition,” freshman Elise Gordon said. “We get to work when we’re hosting, which I hear is super fun.”

Since FHN will be hosting the tournament, Knightpride will perform an exhibition at the beginning of the competition. They will be judged on their performance and receive feedback, however they won’t be scored amongst other schools. Instead of competing in preliminary and final rounds, band members will be helping out in a variety of positions, from concessions, to hospitality rooms for judges and directors, to escorting bands on and off the field in order to ensure the schedule is followed.

“There’s going to be less pressure because we won’t be getting a score, but we’ll still put in the same amount of effort because we want to represent the band well,” senior Elizabeth Busby said. “We’ll still put the same amount of effort in as we would a competition. “I enjoy exhibition because it’s fun to play in front of a crowd without the stress of competition.”

Knightpride has competed in five shows so far this year. The show is titled “The Good Wife’s Guide,” based on a book, and has a 1950s theme, with elements like coffee, chores, husbands coming home, and other plays on the ‘normal day’ of  a 1950s housewife incorporated into the show.
“I think a lot of people underestimate the amount of work and dedication these bands have in order to put on these shows,” parent Shelley Willott said. “Marching bands foster a strong work ethic, teamwork, and empathy for others. It’s pretty incredible to see nearly 100 people perform a 15 minute, coordinated show.”