When you think about your State Fair, lots of sights, sounds and smells come to mind! Deep-fried Twinkies, buttered corn-on- the-cob, 4-H cattle barns, mid-way “barkers” and thrilling rides, and the snarling roars of Figure 8 race cars. All of the above can be found at the Indiana State Fair, plus one more thing you can always rely upon: opening day at the Indiana State Fair is Band Day!
The prelims and finals of this annual marching competition take place on a dirt track, measuring a full-length football field long by one-half the width of a football field wide, in front of a grandstand stuffed with 10,000 supportive band parents and fans. Since its inception in the summer of 1947, 40 to 50 bands (or more) have vied for a coveted spot in the “Sweet Sixteen,” with the winner of that final competition claiming a huge trophy, a $4,000 cash prize and 12 months of bragging rights! Through these many years, there has been no one more familiar with the 1st Place trophy and prize, no one more successful at Indiana State Fair Band Day than Doug Fletcher, Band Director at Winchester Community High School.
Doug began his teaching career at Monroe Central High School in 1985, and his first marching competition as a Director was State Fair Band Day in 1986. Since that day, he has been crowned Grand Champion with Monroe Central in 1989, 1990 & 1991, with Winchester in 1997, Anderson Highland in 2005, 2007, 2009, with Anderson High School in 2010, and, returning this year to Winchester, Doug’s band was the winner once again in 2011! That’s a grand total of 9 championships at 4 different schools. Doug commented, “I certainly will remember and be so proud of the very first (State Band Day) championship, especially since we really had no idea going into the contest if we were going to be modestly successful or very successful. I am also very proud of the Anderson High School Band in 2010, when we found out just weeks prior to the beginning of the season that our two high schools (in Anderson, Indiana) were being merged into one. But, I am most proud of winning at 4 different schools at various points in my teaching career.”
Doug thinks that teaching the kids during their summer break creates a more focused rehearsal atmosphere, because, when in school, the students must share time with athletics, events and the daily grind of academics. “We can rehearse for longer amounts of time without distraction and can then accomplish more in a shorter amount of time, compared to groups that rehearse their marching band during the fall school year. Although some students have to adjust their family vacation time, overall they seem to appreciate less time commitments once school begins.”
Most bands prepare for the big day at the State Fair by participating in two or three contests sponsored by the Central Indiana Summer Track Show Association. After a couple of weeks of judges’ feedback, plus a week of band camp to make adjustments, the trek to Indianapolis begins very early in the morning. Band busses, equipment trailers and staff vans all park in the infield of the State Fair track. Students carve out a space to stretch and warm-up before moving into the assigned performance slot. Fifteen hours later, the tension has risen to epic heights, fueled by screaming fans and students, all played out “live” on four local television newscasts. Doug describes the moment by saying, “it is hard to explain the uniqueness of the experience. The history, combined with the venue, creates magic unparalleled by any other marching band event.”
After the winner is announced, the celebration, hugs and television interviews go on well past midnight before the crowd finally melts away, still discussing the day’s events. Mr. Fletcher sums it all up, saying, “I have been blessed to be supported by wonderful students, parents, staff and school administrations at each school I have had the privilege to teach. There has been nothing more positive in our band programs, schools and local communities than having participated in summer band and the Indiana State Fair Band Day.” For Hoosiers, it’s safe to say there is definitely more than corn and basketball in Indiana.
Everyone at Music Travel Consultants congratulates Mr. Doug Fletcher and the Winchester Community High School Band on their achievements this past August at the Indiana State Fair Band Day.
