Let’s hear it for school spirit: Hundreds of high schoolers join Montana State’s Spirit of the West for Band Day

BOZEMAN - Nearly 250 Montana high school students joined Montana State University's Spirit of the West marching band in Bobcat Stadium on Sept. 20, performing in front of thousands of fans at the football game against Mercyhurst University.

The high schoolers represented 24 Montana towns, with many from rural areas such as Colstrip, Simms and Sweet Grass, which has a population of about 85. For many, MSU's Band Day was their first glimpse into performing with a band of more than 12 students, let alone 450, said Nathan Stark, MSU's director of bands.

"To come and be a member of a 450-piece group, I mean, what a difference," he said. "The purpose of Band Day is to bring high schoolers together in an environment where they can experience the grandeur of music making and positivity we have here at MSU. They're going to go back to their schools excited and energized and ready to bring that same energy to their bands."

Spirit of the West, MSU's 41-year-old band that performs for campus and community events, has extended invitations to Montana bands for more than 20 years, with high schools becoming part of Band Day for about a decade.

This year's Band Day began at 9:30 a.m., with high schoolers meeting Spirit of the West section leaders for their instrument. For 30 minutes, they learned to play simple MSU tunes and move with their instrument from the leaders, who are the first band members that new MSU students meet when they start school in the fall.

"When we have high schools coming to visit us, it's the same energetic, fun-loving people that meet them and start the day off on a positive note," Stark said.

Then, students headed to a band-wide rehearsal near the Brick Breeden Fieldhouse, where they practiced MSU's pre-game fight song and half-time performance. Students had little more than an hour to learn choreography and music for "Land of a Thousand Dances" and "Holiday," staples in the world of pep band.

Once they stepped onto the field of Bobcat Stadium for their performances, students stretched from 10-yard line to 10-yard line, spelling the words "Band Day." Spirit of the West members moved into formation first, with high schoolers rushing onto the field in their gold T-shirts to fill in the letters. The sight of such a large ensemble, Stark said, was jaw-dropping.

"I remember looking up at the sky and the horizon thinking, 'I've got to be the luckiest guy in the world,' sitting up in the scissor lift while 450 people perform in front of me," he said.

He lowered the lift and offered the viewpoint to the high school band directors, so they could watch their students perform with the collegiate ensemble. While Band Day revolves around the students, it's just as important for band directors to feel inspired, Stark said.

After the event, he received a message from a high school band director in Billings, who was inspired by the one-on-one peer mentorship section leaders provide at MSU. A director from Harlowton also sent a note to Stark and wrote that the experience was invaluable as a first-year teacher from the small town, which has a population of about 940, and was a reminder of, "Yes, this is why I do this," Stark said.

High schoolers also played in the stands of Bobcat Stadium during the game, stretching nearly to the top of the bleachers, alongside Spirit of the West between timeouts and downs. The Bobcat football team won 17-0.

"The bands got to play for the team, play for the fans and cheer on the Bobcats," Stark said. "It was a great day."