Discovery Band to debut marching skills in halftime shows

MADISON – Fans at Discovery Middle School will experience a new level of entertainment when the Discovery Panthers Band marches in its first-ever halftime show.Later this month, band members will take to the field and march and play in unison at halftime for eighth-grade football games.”This is going to be a new feature for Discovery football home games,” band parent Pete Shea said. In years past, band members have performed “The National Anthem” and spirit tunes from the stands.

Monroe Murray is director of bands at Discovery.

Director Monroe Murray leads the Discovery Panther Band in a chant. (CONTRIBUTED)

The show will debut at the end of September with 115 band members — 35 in percussion and 80 in the brass and woodwinds section. The show’s theme, “What’s in a Name,” includes “You Can Call Me Al” by Paul Simon, “Hey Jude” by the Beatles and a drum feature, Murray said.

For uniforms, band members will wear Discovery baseball caps, golf shirts and black pants.

Several people are assisting Murray in training students to tackle their new skills. Parents Kevin Enfinger and Jeff Holmes are focusing on percussionists. Cameron Shea, a student at Bob Jones High School, is helping with brass instruments and marching skills.

“Jonathon Willis, a fellow instructor, is helping with horns and pretty much anywhere he is needed,” Murray said.

Scheduling practice time has been the major challenge in preparing the show, Murray said. He is juggling available time while students are in different classes during the day and many after-school activities.

Try-outs for drum major, who will set tempos and director the band on the field, were held during the week of Sept. 2.

The Panther Band program includes 159 of Discovery’s approximately 800 students.