Pride of Morristown returning to state finals

The Pride of Morristown is becoming a regular participant at the marching band Scholastic Finals.

For the fifth year in a row, the band, under the leadership of director Breanne Pickett, is returning to the finals at Lawrence Central High School.

The band, scheduled to lead the day off as the opening performer at 11 a.m. Saturday, will be performing its show “Blueprint” before waiting to find out the results along with the other 14 bands in Scholastic Class B at 2:28 p.m.

“I think we’re continuing a legacy,” Pickett said. “It’s been five years now. The band is really focused on continuing that.”

The band was excited to move on for the fifth year in a row, she said.

This season felt more organized because Pickett was able to start preparations for the season sooner. When she was hired a few days before band camp in 2018, she had little time to get ready.

Now, with a full year under her belt, Pickett said it was easier for everyone to remain focused on what they wanted to achieve from beginning to end.

“I’m feeling good. I think the kids are too,” she said of the upcoming finals. “You never want to be too confident. I think we’re in a position where the kids can show off what they know. We’re not adding a lot of new details (this week). We’re cleaning, refining the show, and that’s a good place to be.”

Being the first band of the day, the biggest effect on band members will be an early morning, starting with a 6 a.m. rehearsal.

The good news is the band already went through that schedule last weekend, when it performed as the first band at Whiteland. Morristown earned a gold rating that day, which sent the band on to the state finals.

The Pride of Morristown will also be leaving town in style that morning with a police escort, Pickett said.

Morristown finished with two first-place finishes and a second place over the course of the season. The band also earned four caption awards at the Lawrence Central Invitational and earned Best Music and Best General Effect at Ben Davis in earning the top spots.

Generally speaking, the band scored and performed better than last year, Pickett said.

Morristown doesn’t have a particular goal in mind for this weekend’s performance. The goal is to make it to state in the first place, she said.

“It’s always good to do better than previous years,” she said. “We’re not shooting for anything lofty.”

Following Class B, 19 bands will be vying for the championship in Class A. The champion in both Class A and B will have the opportunity to perform in exhibition on Nov. 9 at the Indiana State School Music Association state finals at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.