Congratulations to Mrs. Nancy Funk! Winner of the 2013 Carmel Marching Band “Win a Car” raffle, sponsored by Dreyer & Reinbold.
Thanks to the entire community for helping us make this a successful component of our fundraising campaign as we work together towards our common goal of the 2014 Rose Parade in Pasadena. Find out how you can help with your donations today..
Thanksgiving Day started early for the Carmel High School Marching Band, which was featured in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in Manhattan.
The 250 band and color guard members, who were staying at a New York City hotel, had to wake up at 1:30 a.m. Thursday to rehearse for television cameras.
The Marching Greyhounds were no strangers to publicity, having placed third in the Bands of America Grand National Championship
at Lucas Oil Stadium earlier this month. But “there’s a lot more people here,” 17-year-old Nick Kniola reported by phone Thursday.
After a 3:40 a.m. practice, students grabbed a few more hours of sleep in their bus before the parade began at 9 a.m.
Nick, who plays baritone saxophone, and his bandmates marched behind a giant helium-filled Kung-Fu Panda.
“We had nice view of his rear end,” said Nick’s dad, Chris Kniola, a parent chaperone who walked behind the band.
The temperature in New York was in the 40s, making the roughly 3-mile march pretty cold, Nick reported, but “really interesting.”
“We had a ton of people cheering us on.”
And the cheers weren’t only from people on the streets of Manhattan. About 11 a.m., Chris got a text from his wife informing him that the kids looked good on NBC.
The Marching Greyhounds were one of only eleven bands to participate in the parade — and those featured included college musicians and the New York Police Department Marching Band.
The Carmel students were looking forward to a packed weekend. They had plans for a dinner cruise, tickets to the musical “Wicked,” and some time set aside to explore Chinatown and Little Italy.
Heather Gillers, Indianapolis Star, 11/25/11New Videos posted:
The Carmel Marching “C” is earned by Marching Band students that exemplify the motto, “Excellence as a Lifestyle”. This award was developed to help develop the visual program standards as our Marching Band season progresses in the areas of “C”horeography, “A”wareness, “R”espect, “M”echanics, “E”xecution, and “L”ove. These students represent the highest level of achievement in each of those areas and received a mirrored, pin-on “C” miniature version of the marching band uniform “C” to wear on their band uniforms and letter jackets.
Congratulations! All of you who have recieved this distinction are the “best of the best” in our Marching Band program!
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Wow! Those three letters say it all – Wow, what a night! Having 2 children go through the band (not concurrently), I’ve seen a band performance or two. I was fortunate enough to have my older daughter in band during the Fall 2005 season – the last year that Carmelwon Grand Nat’s. When I think back to that show, that night’s performance, and that night’s awards I still get chills. Many events stand out in my life as ones I will never forget – of course the birth of each of my three children, job promotions, family events, etc. The Grand Nat’s of 2005 is one of those 
special memories. I was sitting in the crowd with my younger daughter listening to the announcer slowly go up the list of placements. Each time a school was ready to be called, I said to myself…”Not Carmel, Not Carmel”. And in third place…..”Not Carmel, Not Carmel”…my blood pressure was rising. Kenzie and I were growing more excited by the second. And in second place…..”Not Carmel, Not Carmel”……and of course second place was not Carmel. I don’t actually remember any of the other top placing bands – I just remember the feeling and excitement of hearing, “And in first place, Carmel Marching Greyhounds”!!! The crowd went crazy – everyone went to the field to congratulate the kids. It was so special.
Now flash forward to November 2011, this time sitting with my older daughter who had experienced a big win at Grand Nat’s and many Carmel parents, there was such anticipation that the kids would really perform the show the best they have all season. We sat on the edge of our seats, nodded with the beat, and cheered when we knew the kids had “hit” the key components of the show. I looked up and saw the Walled Lake Band students doing the Double Dream Hand dance and was so impressed with their encouragement of our kids. When the band finished, a round of thunderous applause broke out (not just from theCarmelparents) and there was not a dry eye around me. I could feel it again. It was 2005, it felt “right”. The kids had done all they could to show the judges that they deserved a high ranking.
When the announcer again began his pronouncements of awards…and in twelfth place….again I started with “Not Carmel, Not Carmel”. I am sure John Vasuta, sitting in front of me was thinking – what the heck? But I kept it up. And when it was announced that there was a tie for best music – we knew. We just knew. And whenCarmelwas announced for best music, it was as if we had won again – just like in 2005. We all knew what a huge accomplishment it was for our kids and the directors to get that award. So no matter whetherCarmelever actually gets possession of the award, there is a picture that memorializes the accomplishment. But it really doesn’t matter if we have a trophy or a picture, I have a new memory. Thanks for the ride, Carmel Marching Greyhounds!
-Pat Gerber b Click here for moreMonday December 12, 2011 – Monday December 12, 2011
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Carmel, IN – Many of Indy’s favorite food trucks will be coming to Carmel on Friday, October 14 from 5-8pm, as part of the Carmel High School Marching Band’s annual Community Night. The event will be held at the CHS Football Stadium on 136th Street in the west parking lot, and will include family-friendly activities including a bounce house, games, and annual Cow Chip Bingo contest. There will also be a performance by the award-winning Carmel Marching Greyhounds at 8pm.
“Foodie” favorites like West Coast Tacos, NYSlice, Scratch, Hoosier Fat Daddy, Neighborhood Pizza, Mable on the Move, and Fat Sammies will be participating in the Taste of the Trucks Carmel. Proceeds will benefit the CHS Marching Greyhounds trip to the 2011 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Entry to the Taste of the Trucks area will be $5.00 per person at the event, with kids 12 and under admitted for free.
“Community Night is a season highlight for the Marching Band kids,” said Richard Saucedo, Director of the Carmel Marching Greyhounds. “It is their first opportunity to perform the full competition program for their families, friends and neighbors. The kids always pull out all the stops for this night, and they never disappoint.”
The Carmel High School Marching Greyhounds were ISSMA State Champions in 1991, 2001, and 2002. In Bands of America Competitions throughout the years, the Marching Greyhounds have won numerous awards, including: BOA National Class AAA Champion in 2001; National Finalist every year since 1996; 2005 BOA National Champion; and Regional Champion at Toledo, St. Louis, Oxford, Indianapolis, Atlanta, Louisville, and Kettering, Ohio Regional Competitions.
The Carmel High School Marching Greyhounds were invited to perform in the 2004 London New Year’s Parade in London, England. In 2007, the Carmel Marching Band was invited to play on the USS Missouri with Hawaii’s Royal Band.
Please contact Jennifer Riley Simone at publicity@carmelbands.org or 860-670-6595 for more information.
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Five Leadership Traits that we hope to instill in all members of the Carmel High School Marching Band:
In any good team or ensemble, leaders must be great examples and even role models. Great student leaders walk their talk and lead by example more so than they do with words. Great student leaders also understand that part of their job is to help produce positive momentum within the group.
Students tend to follow a person they can trust, who is consistent in all situations, and who is not a hypocrite. Student leaders with integrity do what they say they’re going to do, no matter how busy they are at the time.
Our good friend and motivational speaker, Scott Lang is known to constantly preach that “The MORE you GIVE, The MORE you GET”. Student leaders work to create a paradigm that is exciting and dynamic, while the emphasis is always on excellence. The Carmel Marching Band must stand for something that is extraordinary enough that the feelings the members get from belonging can’t be duplicated anywhere else.
Simply put, Carmel student leaders know that their role is to serve others and they are okay with the fact that being a student leader is often a thankless job.
Carmel student leaders should have a realistic, yet forward thinking mission statement and work to develop the “buy-in” from the remainder of the group. All life journeys require negotiating your way through obstacles, and followers want to know that there are people they can count on to get them through the tough situations.
CARMEL BANDS: CONTINUING TO PROMOTE EXCELLENCE AS A LIFESTYLE!
From Mr. Saucedo (with thanks to Scott Rush at Wando High School for his insight into leadership)…
The Marching Band Clarinet Section enjoyed a delicious lunch on Saturday at Meadowlark Park in Carmel. Neighborhood Pizza provided the section a free lunch because of their winning efforts in the Joplin Project. Clarinets raised just over $740 of the $2500 total that the marching band is sending to the Joplin, Missouri Band. They had a great lunch and even enjoyed some of the playground equipment. Neighborhood Pizza of Carmel donated the food for the kids. For more information, click here: Neighborhood Pizza You may also view additional pictures on SmugMug.
The Sax’es went on a road trip to Coxhall Gardens. The German Potato Salad was fantastic! Not only was all the food great, everyone had a great time. While the parents planned the season’s Spirit Actvities, the Saxophones went on a sojourn through the park…we were never sure they would ever return!
Thanks to Al and Laura Patterson for sharing their backyard!
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