The De Soto High School marching band received first place at the Baker University Marching Festival on Oct. 14.

The band performed a selection of songs from Star Wars, and the color guard and baton twirler performed alongside them. DHS band director Matt Bradford was impressed with the band’s performance.

“I thought the band did very well [at Baker],” Bradford said. “It’s been a long season, lots of practices and a ton of hard work since band camp.” Several factors contributed to the band’s score, including musicality, articulation, marching and general effects. “Our twirler and color guard added to our general effect points, as well as our light saber battle,” Bradford said.

The band’s performance featured a band-wide battle which focused on nine band members. While the rest of the band dueled with light sabers made out of PVC pipe, the nine in the center had a collection of “battle ready” and realistic lightsabers. The battle was choreographed by members of the band that Bradford refers to as special Jedi’s.

“We didn’t get any specifics, just [to choreograph] 45 seconds, make it flashy [with] lots of spins,” said battle participant Bram Heath.

Sophomore Ben Pickert also helped choreograph the battle.

“We all got together and decided who was going to kill who,” Pickert said.

The Jedis agree that the performance at Baker went well. “We did fantastic at Baker.It definitely gave us an edge [in the competition].

It was a great way to send off the seniors,” Heath said.

Pickert was also impressed with the performance.

“I don’t think we could’ve done any better. It was perfect,” Pickert said.

Even though the band took first place, Bradford wants to repeat the accomplishment next year.

“We have to come up with something that will top last year, we want to come up with something that’s fun, that the kids enjoy and the crowd loves,” Bradford said.