ENGLEWOOD – COVID’s bad enough, but the frequent weather delays, one of which forced The Lemon Bay Marching Manta Rays inside during this practice, have set them behind this year.
In a theme that’ll no doubt loom over this year’s Band of the Week series, the COVID pandemic left band programs around the Suncoast upended. Senior and drum major Madisyn Perry says it was one reason the band numbers dropped.
“They’re scared to do it, because COVID does exist, it is a problem. And since that broke out we’ve been in bell covers, we’ve went to voluntary marching band, and a lot of kids just don’t believe in themselves anymore,” Madisyn says.
I ask her, “How does that make you feel?”
“It’s a little frustrating,” she replies.
Lemon Bay’s band transitioned into a pep band in 2020, meaning no marching show. The show they’re performing this year, Aerodynamics, was supposed to be their show last year.
“Christian Van Buren, he was in my section, and he didn’t get to experience that last year of marching which is what the seniors all look forward to,” band captain Julia Lehman says.
And Madisyn is even more blunt.
“You don’t look back fondly at your junior year?” I ask.
“No. No.”
When I visited a few weeks ago, the band was just beginning to get their halftime show on the field.
“We would usually have at least the opener, we would have it marched by the first show,” Julia says.
Remember, they had to teach not just freshmen how to march, but the sophomores who didn’t get their marching experience last year.
But despite the frustrations, there’s a different feel in the air.
Band director Philip Eyrich told me the shift to an all-volunteer band was partly influenced by COVID, yes.
But it also meant that those who wanted to just be in the stands as a pep band could do that, and those who wanted to march would be the only ones in marching band.
So no one is going through the motions.
“Everyone’s on it this year,” Madisyn tells me.
“Who’s the least on it?” I ask
“Eyrich,” she jokes.
After the practice, Julia stands in front of the band and congratulates them on getting four sets of drill on the field.
“I just want to let you know that I’m really proud of you and what you’ve accomplished today. You know, learning… four sets is pretty hard for some people.”
The hope to soar with their halftime show.
“Even though our band is small, it’s going to be a great year, and I can feel it,” Julia says.
