Instructor John VanPatten goes over last minute preparations before competition begins, asking band members to visualize each note and step.

SOUTH WHITLEY —  Each week, in the early hours of the morning, you’ll find the Whitko Marching Pride rehearsing its winning piece, “Time Machine” under the direction of John VanPatten.  “V.P.” as the band members affectionately call him, is making his first year debut on staff at Whitko one to remember as the band travels to the state competition this weekend in Indianapolis.

The roughly 10 minute program takes the audience through a three song journey of music where the band mimics many of the familiar everyday items we hear and use to tell time: the alert on an alarm clock, the tick-tock of a grandfather clock and even the sway of a pendulum. Props, like the giant digital alarm clock, set the scene, and if you look close, it even reads the date of the state competition, Nov. 4. 

Saturday evening, the band came home to thunderous applause and lifted spirits. Its members had passed the semi-state level of competition. To celebrate their victory, as is the local tradition, the champions rode the fire truck through South Whitley in the late night hours hoisting their trophy high overhead and celebrating. All in all, the lives of these students are being transformed in the time they spend together as a band, with their instructor, and time will only tell if they will soon be State Champions.

Needless to say, the past two weeks have been a whirlwind of activity for the students of the band and their parents at Whitko High School. With competitions each weekend came an array of responsibilities such as the morning run-through of the songs, packing up the gear, traveling to various destinations, competing and then of course awaiting the results. But now that the competitions are over, and everyone is packing up to travel home, the Marching Pride of Whitko will be marching onward toward a victory in Indianapolis.

Advance tickets for state finals are being sold through the Whitko front office. Tickets are $20 for adults and $18 for students. Children under 2 who will not occupy a seat are free. Please purchase your tickets in advance to save you time and effort of buying them at the Lucas Oil box office. Tickets will only be sold through the end of the day on Thursday.