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Luverne High School band getting back to basics with 'Haunted' program

Lead Summary
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By
Mavis Fodness

Luverne High School band director James Jarvie is looking forward to the 2022 marching season only due to its normalness.
The fourth-year director at LHS has persevered through a move from Ellsworth High School, a Luverne construction project and two years of the coronavirus pandemic that has left the program membership at half its normal size.
“That really hurt us,” Jarvie said of the coronavirus social-distancing rules. “Most said, ‘I’m not marching in a mask.’”
Band membership is at 47 as the program completes the second week of a three-week camp. There are 12 color guard members.
This year Jarvie, along with senior drum majors Parker Carbonneau and Grace Ingebretsen and first-year drum major junior Emma Lusty, is focusing on the basic maneuvers and body positions.
“My hope is to increase our overall scores by 10 points or higher,” Jarvie said.
This spring, band members worked with a clinician on breathing fundamentals to increase the volume of their sound.
They will perform “Fat Bottom Girls” by Queen as parade competition music and are working on a field show that is different from those of years past.
Jarvie said instead of telling a story, this year’s field program called “Haunted” conveys a theme.
“It’s a little bit of fun but mostly it is spooky and creepy,” he said.
And the woodwinds wear masks of a different sort when they don paper mannequin-like white faces and perform in a 16-count dance during the program around grave stones.
“It’s a fun new addition the band gets to do,” said senior Tori Hemme.
The band will perform during the halftime games of the Cardinal football games on Sept. 9 and 30. The pep band will perform at the Oct. 19 game.
They will also attend the following Saturday competitions:
•Waseca Marching Band Festival, Sept. 17.
•Tri-State Band Festival, Sept. 24.
•Brandon Big Sioux Review, Sept. 24.
•Sioux Falls Festival of Bands, Oct. 1.
•Orange City Dutchmen Field Competition, Oct. 8.
A public indoor marching band concert wraps up the band’s 2022 season Monday, Oct. 17.

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