The new school year brought many changes, such as the new addition and new teachers. De Soto High School also welcomed a new color guard coach, Matt Elliott. After losing its coach from last year, band director Matt Bradford was unsure if he would be able to find an instructor in time for school.

“I was not actively looking for a position, but another school that knew me pretty well heard that Bradford was looking for someone so they recommended me to him,” Elliott said.

Elliott has a unique story behind how he first became interested in color guard back in high school.

“I got dared to audition by another trombone my freshman year, and I actually did it. So going into my sophomore year I was officially in color guard. I ended up really enjoying it and decided to continue,” Elliott said.

The color guard is very excited to have the new addition and looks forward to the new changes and promising events ahead.

“I am very excited to have a new coach in general, because it’s fun to teach him new things about DHS, and he teaches us new things as well,” junior Ava Goldsby said. “We had a lot of issues with our coach last year, so it’s weird to see someone else’s perspective. It changes our frame of mind, which I think is a good thing.”

On the smaller scale, Goldsby was excited to receive new costumes.

“He chose really cool costumes, and he was really open about having us help with the costumes and really took our opinions into consideration,” Goldsby said.

In addition to becoming a staff member with the DHS band, Elliott is going through other changes.

“I am finally getting settled into my new apartment and that was kind of stressful, because the week before I was at band camp here and the very next week I was moving,” Elliott said.

Now on its second year after not being a part of the band three years ago, Elliott is excited for what is in the future in regards to the color guard.

“I plan to hopefully get bigger flags and transition the girls to a higher level of dance. Then I would like to add rifles and sabers, but in order to do that, they have to master the basics before moving on,” Elliott said.

Although transitioning can be quite difficult, both the guard and Elliott have been adjusting well.

“I think their willingness to accept change has really benefitted them,” Elliott said. “Because they have a new coach, what they were used to from last year is being changed. They all have a really open attitude and that has made it easier to get into our own routine.”