Great Bend High School students in the marching band are attending band camp this week to prepare for a semester of performances.

On Sunday, they had a “get-to-know-you” meeting with the new GBHS Band Director Ellie White.

Starting Monday, they’ve been on the practice field every morning from 8-11:30 a.m. In the afternoons, they are indoors practicing music from 1-4 p.m. The drum line and color guard work 5-8 p.m.

The public can see a showcase of their work when they perform at 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 1, at Memorial Stadium. Admission will be free.

If you miss that show, there will be several more opportunities to see the band.

“We will be at every home game,” White said. “Our show is ‘The Wizard of Oz.’”

The band will also travel to Hoisington for the Labor Day Parade and to Hutchinson for the Kansas State Fair.

It takes several people to direct the band as members work on their field formations. Working with White are two other new music directors at USD 428: Great Bend Middle School Band Director Alejandra Cornelio and GBHS Orchestra Director Mark Ahlman.

Color guard instructors are Melanie Maneth and Donna Becker and drum line instructors are Alan Baxter and Addison Baxter.

The senior drum major is Aaron Ramirez and the junior drum major is Fernanda Ponce.

The band’s hard work doesn’t end with this week’s camp. In addition to practicing music during the first period of each school day, they will practice on the field for two hours on Thursday evenings.