On Oct. 12, 2011, the De Soto High School marching band traveled to Baldwin to participate in the Baker Marching Festival. The DHS marching band received the highest score, a I, and won the overall competition over Louisburg High School, who was the second largest band at the festival. The DHS Dazzlers and Drumline also received I ratings.

 DHS band members were extremely excited to hear the results, and many burst into tears after the shock wore off.

 “Hearing those scores was one of the best moments of my life. Winning Baker has made senior year that much better,” senior Lizzi Ramsey said.

 There were several other band students who expressed their surprise and excitement.

 “I was afraid we would score a II. You get so invested in the band you start to think every little mistake will cost you the top score. Happily, I was mistaken,” senior Rick Clancy said.

 New band director Emma Willis was also thrilled.

“I feel great about it. We’ve been working really hard, and it’s a great start to my first year at DHS,” Willis said.

The band is in a transition year, and undergoing several changes. The band is larger than ever and there has been some friction between members.

“We had kind of a rough start. We have really high expectations … because we had fewer rehearsals and a larger band than last year some expectations weren’t being met,” said senior drum major Hannah Stevens. “But with the competitions, games and Monday night rehearsals, the band has really come together and overcome the obstacles.”

The DHS band has won the overall competition at Baker University three times in the past four years, and the drumline and dazzlers have consistently received high scores.

The band attended the Southern Plains Marching Festival in Andover on Oct. 26, 2011, where they received a superior rating.