Taking the field, Bob Jones wraps band camp this week

Bob Jones marching band hard at work (Record Photo/Lindsay Vaught)

MADISON- Long before the lights, crowd, and football, the band practices for hours to perfect their music and marching formations. Bob Jones band students endured 100 degree heat to put their show on the field.

This year band camp was an extra two days in order to escape the hottest part of the day. It will end Tuesday July 26 with a performance for family and fans at the practice field.

Bob Jones Band Director Leah Thomas is now in her fifth year at Bob Jones.

“We are taking a different approach this year. We are rotating five different songs,” she said. “We start with the 70’s, then 80’s, 90’s and 2000’s up to today so fans should be seeing a different show every few weeks. We are doing some creative movements in order to reuse drill moves and certain formations. It will be five tunes everybody will enjoy. We have some Prince, AC/DC, and Demi Lovato for the young fans.”

Thomas is assisted by Kevin Smart now in his second year as assistant band director.

The marching band is 190 members and the competition show is 140.

The first week was pleasant with periods of clouds and rain but the second week temps went up to 100 degrees. Thomas has band parents and a nurse on hand to deal with any heat related illnesses.

“We give them breaks and keep them hydrated. We have a tent that has water and food. The kids have pushed through it very well. We focus on the football show during band camp because that involves everybody then the second week we have some blocks for competition band. So when school starts the football show will be mostly done except for rotating some songs.”

Bob Jones opens the regular season August 19 hosting Dorman High School one of the top schools in South Carolina.

Thomas doesn’t yet know if Dorman will bring their band but said “we will be ready to go. We are excited for the big game.”

Drum majors are Josh Todd, John Schumacher, and Janice Hendrick.