On hot summer days, students drive down Lake Ave. and see band members marching in the South parking lot. During open lunch, upperclassmen pass by these same kids going over their routines. Around dinner time most students are home, yet band has practice. This is life as a South band member.
Junior Demetri Kotsinis plays the French horn for Symphonic Band and the mellophone for marching band.
French horn is typically a sit-down instrument, where as the mellophone is a marching instrument. Although they look different, they both play the same musical notes.
Kotsinis started playing French horn in sixth grade and has continued playing throughout his junior year with South’s Marching Band.
“When I was a freshman, I thought it was required,” Kotsinis explained. “My mom was just like, ‘Oh, you gotta do marching band’ […] Later I realized, hey, you know, I don’t really have to do this, but I kind of like it.”
Band members, like Kotsinis, put forth a lot of their time and energy to make every performance of theirs just right.
“A typical practice is mainly a lot of technique in marching and learning the show moves along with the music we’re given,” Kotsinis said. “In terms of effort, full focus is needed because if not, we’re either going to have to keep doing it until it’s just right, or someone could get hurt.”
The band works under director Greg Wojcik, director for all the bands at South. He teaches the students their choreography and their music.
“The practices only go as well as the kids who are there that are buying into it, and we have great leadership […] Because of that, we’re performing at a higher level,” Wojcik said.
According to Kotsinis, it’s not uncommon for band members to feel ostracized by the student body. During some rehearsals, members can hear shouts from student drivers passing by.
“I think of the stereotype as sort of nerdy or geeky,” Kotsinis explained.
Despite this belief, Kotsinis believes marching band includes students with a variety of interests.
“I remember freshman year my section leader was on varsity football, band and Nine, so I mean, I think maybe back in the day it might’ve been geeky and stuff, but now, I don’t see any difference at all,” Kotsinis said.
The marching band consists of about 175 students who practice twice a week. Before competitions, the band’s call time is several hours earlier in order to perfect their routine.
“Demetri is a great kid, and he does what he loves,” Wojcik said. “Whatever it is, he’s always got a smile on his face and has great friends and when it comes down to work, he’s a hard worker, very dedicated.”
Band members do not only play music and march. According to Wojcik, the marching is very physical.
“We work as hard as the football team, and like them, I hear the coaches all the time [saying], ‘[We need] mental and physical toughness,’ and with band we have three: mental toughness, physical toughness and emotional toughness because on the field we have to send a message through our music,” Wojcik said.
