Tahoma’s first in 10 years is Friday

For the first time in nearly 10 years, the Tahoma High School band will take the football field at halftime of a football game this Friday.

The halftime performance during Tahoma’s home game against Kent-Meridian High School is an evolution of what began as parade marching for the Maple Valley Days community and has grown into a field show involving close to 100 students, three teachers and several volunteers.

Colleen Nichols, a musician and “Tahoma mom,” has been hired as the marching band director. She brings many years of marching-band experience to the program and is hoping that field shows “will bring about a unity between music and athletics. I hope it will also showcase Tahoma’s music programs by performing in a new and exciting way during the halftime show.”

The show will be fairly simple as a way of introducing the students to field show marching, she said, noting that many of the students have had no exposure to field shows. One freshman student, band organizers said, asked her mother, “What does marching band mean? Will we be walking around with our instruments?”

Much of the rehearsal time so far has been used to teach the basics. But the students are learning quickly. “I hope to have this show be second nature for all of us soon,” said drum major Anna Thorson.

The marching band includes freshmen from Tahoma Junior High and members of Tahoma High’s Symphonic Band and Wind Ensemble. Finding the time to get all three groups together is a challenge, resulting in practices after school and on weekends.

“We’re learning how to follow the leader, just like in kindergarten,” said Zach Cadiente, a sophomore. “We’re trying to get 100 people to work toward a common goal.”

The students have enjoyed their time outside the band room. “I wish we had started field show marching sooner, like when I was a sophomore. It’s really fun,” said Crystal Belsha, a senior who has marched in three Maple Valley Days parades.

Friday’s game starts at 7 p.m.