Marching+Band

== = = = = = = =Belleville West Marching Maroons= During the first quarter of the academic year, students from the Symphonic and Concert bands join members of the flag and auxiliary units to form the Marching Band. All students attend a summer band camp on the West campus prior to the start of the school. The Marching Maroons perform for athletic events, band festivals, and community parades throughout the Illinois and the greater St. Louis are. At the conclusion of the football season, performance study includes standard literature by traditional and comtemporary composers.

[[image:majorettes_compressed.jpg align="right" caption="1973 Majorettes"]]Overview
The Marching Maroons practice everyday seventh hour outside on the practice field or rehearse on the track for upcoming parades and competitions during the school year. During the summer, students must attend summer band camp which usually begins the first week of August and lasts through one full week of non-stop rehearsing, marking time, and of course playing, playing and more playing. The Marching Maroons season starts out with a few football games early in the year. Following the games are field show competitions. These competitions are a highlight for the Marching Maroons. Over the past years, Belleville West has done significantly well in competitions around the Illinois area. Many trophies and prizes have been awarded to the Marching Maroons.

Hi[[image:band_compressed.jpg width="320" height="247" align="left" caption="1924 Belleville West band"]]story
The first band at Belleville West was created in 1924. It was a small band and was called the B.T.H.S Band. It was directed by the very first director, Mr. Schmidt. The band first appeared at the Pep session held on the square on the night of the first football game. As Belleville West grew as a school, the band became even more popular, and the number of band members increased. The current band director is Dr. Thomas Birkner, and he directs the Marching Band as well as other classes at Belleville West. During the long and distinguished history, the Belleville West Marching Maroons have found great success. This reputation has been established through performances at the regional and national level. Students of this group continue to serve as wonderful ambassadors for our school and community. Graduates continue to serve as role models and successful students at the collegiate level; prestigious schools including Northwestern University, the University of Cincinnati, the Eastman School of Music, Julliard, the University of Miami, USC, and Yale.

University Campus Performances
The Marching Maroons attend at least five to six field show competitions at local colleges and universities in Illinois. The one the band looks forward to every year is the Pinckneyville Mardi Gras Parade and Field Show in Pinckneyville, IL. The field show is held in the afternoon, and the parade is later at night. The BW band colors the band with glow sticks to show off the band at night. The Marching Maroons have won Grand Champion overall at this competition for two years straight. Illinois State University McKendree University Southern Illinois University at Carbondale University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign University of Missouri at Columbia Western Illinois University**
 * Eastern Illinois

==Significant performances by the Belleville West Marching Maroons== The United States Capitol in Washington, D.C. A cultural exchange with Toronto, Ontario and Belleville, Ontario, and Canada, The Orange Bowl Festival and Parade in Miami, Florida, Grand Champion Band at the National Peach Bowl Festival in Atlanta, Georgia, The Indianapolis 500 Festival Parade in Indianapolis, Indiana, First Place American Band at Manisphere Festival in Winnipeg, Canada Invited field show performance, St. Louis Football Cardinals Invited pregame performance, St. Louis Baseball Cardinals 2006 World Series Champion Parade, St. Louis, Missouri

Annual Regional Parade Performances include:
The Belleville Labor Day Parade The Millstadt Homecoming Parade The Optimist Santa Parade in Belleville The Belleville District #118 Parade The Belleville Memorial Day Parade The Belleville Shriner's Parade

Recent awards include:
Grand Champion Band at the 2009 Pinckneyville Mardi Gras Fetival

Outstanding Parade Band at the 2009 Quincy Octoberfest

Numerous awards for Outstanding Drum Major, Percussion, and Auxiliary at festivals including the McKendree University Preview of Champions, Eastern Marching Festival, Effingham Marching Festival, Sparta Marching Festival, and the Quincy Oktoberfest.

Traditions
Some long lasting traditions of the Belleville West Marching Band include the famous Chuck Wagon and peanut square night when the band travels to Effingham for the competition. The Chuck Wagon provides the band with a delicious lunch as well as the famous peanut squares made by a close, generous band member.

This page was created by Erin Birkner and Lindsey Muskopf.