Even before the beginning of the year, the De Soto High School Marching Band has been hard at work preparing their 2024 show, “Leap of Faith.”

Band season started back on July 24th, with the beginning of their pre-camp, and training for those in leadership positions a day earlier. Additionally, from the beginning of the official school year, band members have had rehearsals every green day morning on the football field, while also having evening rehearsals on Tuesdays.

While they did have a successful season last year, the band experienced some struggles.

Senior Rose Rulifson has been drum major for two years now and can testify to some of the challenges she specifically faced. 

“I was frustrated a lot last year when things didn’t go well and I think this year I’m trying to be a little more focused on having fun rather than being perfect all the time,” said Rulifson. “I’ve worked really hard to be perfect, but you can’t.” 

Additionally, there was some internal conflict within the band. 

“Last year, we were certainly divided throughout the sections and just in general. It’s hard to tell when you’re a drum major because you’re so caught up in all of your responsibilities in your own world and it’s hard to notice what’s going on with everything else,” said Rulifson. “But, it was even apparent last year that things were not very good and that we were very competitive with each other.”

However, senior drum major Claire McGinn describes a number of things that the leadership team has been doing to make things work better.

“Definitely making things less competitive and more family-oriented,” said McGinn. “Everything is a lot better when we work together and when we’re appreciating one another for our skills instead of trying to size one another up.”

With the departure of the class of 2024, the band has slightly shrunk in size. However, the new incoming freshmen have been eager to start marching.

Phillip Kaul, the assistant director of bands here at De Soto, felt optimistic about the arrival of new marchers.

“This is a great incoming freshman class. It’s a little bit of a smaller class for us, but every single student has contributed and been pulling their weight,” said Kaul. “I think that [for] every group of freshmen it’s kind of a shock to the system whenever they first start. But, this group has done a really awesome job of taking that challenge and running with it.”

There is a lot to be excited about for this year’s band season as well. The band will be performing at numerous competitions this year, including one at Blue Springs South on September 21st and another at Emporia State for the KBA Marching Championships.

McGinn and Rulifson shared what they are most excited about, and why they look forward to those events.

“I honestly think [I’m excited for] games and competitions. Like when we performed on Friday, [September 6th,] that was one of the first times I was like ‘Wow, this is like really really cool,’” said McGinn. “Practices are fun, but [at] games, you feel like you’re a part of something really. When you’re all together and working it’s one thing, it’s really awesome.”

“I’m looking forward to Olathe [Marching Invitational], for similar reasons,” said Rulifson. “We’ve been going to Olathe all four of years that I’ve been in high school and so it’s familiar and nostalgic and usually it’s just a really great time, so I’m excited to see how we do there.”

Despite prior struggles, the De Soto High School Marching Band has been eagerly preparing for another successful season, and looking forward to new memories and new members.