On October 9 the Seymour Marching Owls went around to all the schools in Jackson County. The band does this every year to help maintain interest and awareness for the band program. The Marching Owls give a 25 minute performance including their best tunes for this season for all 8 schools. The schools on the tour include: SMS 8th Grade/7th, Cortland Elementary, Redding Elementary, Emerson Elementary, Immanuel/St. Ambrose, Brown Elementary, Jackson Elementary, and the 6th Grade Center.

Some of the elementary kids found it really cool to see the people from their school in band. Second grader Lexi James’ eyes lit up at the performance. James is a student at Jackson Elementary and she said,  “It was cool to see all the people from Jackson.” Although she greatly enjoyed the band’s performance and loves the trumpet over all other instruments, James wants to participate in cheer leading when she goes to high school.

At every school Cottrill reminded the middle school or elementary students that if they do band that does not mean they cannot do any other sports. He asked the band members to raise their hand if they were in sports and a little more than half of the band raised their hands. Drum major Sam Schmidt is in tennis, and he still gets to play, march, and conduct in the band.

For some high schoolers it was the first time they had done the band tour but for the seniors it was the last. Senior trumpet player Morgan Boas said of the last tour,“We went out with a bang.” Boas has been playing trumpet for two years but started band in sixth grade playing french horn. She said that out of all the performances the band does, the band tour and IU Band Day are her favorites. Even though it was a little cramped on the bus because they had their instruments on their laps Boas thought the kids thought that their performance was “epic”.

Not only do the elementary kids have fun enjoying the show, but it also gives them a chance to see what the program is like.