duPont Manual Varsity (Long Way Home)
There comes a day, for everyone, when they will be compelled to, by internal thirsts for adventure and independence or external pressures from parents and friends, leave the people they have called home and plant themselves in some distant place. This is not merely a new, temporary location, but a new, not yet fully developed home. It will take time, of course, before the things that will build that home—new memories and relationships—are had, and in that intermediary stage, it only makes sense for home to feel far off and untouchable.
In duPont Manual’s Scholastic A 2 show Long Way Home, this concept is explored with artistic complexity as senior Demetrius stars in the role of a temporary nomad, of sorts, who is on a journey back home. In his own words, “My role in the show represents someone who leaves home and travels far away, but misses home the whole time. The journey feels long and difficult because home is always on my mind, and by the end I return and realize how much it means to me.”
Demetrius (left) Joselyn (center) Addison (right)
As a senior, this is his last show with duPont, personalizing the meaning in a way Addison, another senior with duPont, comments on: “Because it’s my senior year, my show just means family since we’re been friends since freshman year and our show is titled Long Way Home. So it’s like, you know, even though we’re going off to college soon, we’re always going to have memories and each other.” Joselyn, another senior, comments on the memories this show has formed between her and the unit: “I love sharing memories with my friends, even little moments where we interact on the floor. That’s really special to me, [and] I think our show shows that all you need are the people around you.”
In love with the supportive environment of TriState competitions, they are most excited for championships and that final performance where they get to be a part of that friendly competition one last time. As Addison says, “I love the community because, you know, walking the halls everyone’s like ‘You look so pretty!’ ‘You had a good show!’ Obviously we’re competing against each other, but it’s a family no matter what. [So] I’m excited for champs and being able to perform one last time.” We, at Tristate, are excited to watch that final performance and wish duPont Manual a fantastic season!
John Hardin HS (The Other Day)
Suffering, when it precedes joy, is almost necessary to keep people thankful and never ignorant to the rapidity with which circumstances, people, and things can, and do, change. In John Hardin’s Percussion Scholastic Concert A show, The Other Day, the unchanging, mental resilience needed to bare the change of created, physical things is explored through a story of sunrises and storms told with bright hits like “Here Comes the Sun” by The Beatles and more aggressive pieces like Plini’s “Electric Sunrise.” As Tyler, a senior xylophonist, simply explains, “The beginning is nice, and maybe you hit some rough parts, but the end is nice again.” Isaiah, a senior drummer, connects this meaning to his personal life: “I think the whole idea of the show is, like, a sunset, a storm, and then a sunset: [the good] after the storm. I feel like that kind of represents my career in music, so far.”
Beyond that, as a senior, he is sad to leave but content to have spent his high school career playing with this ensemble. He shares the sentiment of marimbist Cami, another senior, who says, “Since [us three] are seniors, this ensemble means a lot to me. I take almost every part of our show in an emotional way. It’s my last show ever with this ensemble and this percussion.”
Isaiah (left) Cami (center) Tyler (right)
This being their last season together, Tyler is “…excited to see everyone crying at the end.” It’s an exhilarating feeling, for the environment of performers all working just as hard creates a productive, interconnected ambiance that, I bet, reaches its sharpest climax at that final performance and awards reception. Isaiah says, commenting on that environment, “I feel like the work ethic creates a good ambiance of people who are here for the same reason.” Cami just can’t wait to get better as the season progresses: “I’m excited to get better. Even though we’re at a very good point in our show now and our players are very good, we’re still at a point where there’s definitely room to improve.” Tristate Marching Arts can’t wait, either, and hopes to see John Hardin at finals as they continue playing through the storm!
Lakota West HS JV (Home)
Stella (left) Molly (center) Brianna (right)
“Home is a place where I always feel safe and comfortable, and I always feel that way when I’m around my team,” is what Molly, a sophomore on Lakota West’s Scholastic Regional A unit, said their 2026 show Home meant to her. When I watch the smiles on each performers’ faces and see the rhythm with which they perform paired with the show’s warm colors and golden imagery, it is clear that, to them, this is not just another performance but a celebration of friendship and community.
This community, however, encompasses much more than just Lakota West’s particular guard: it encompasses TriState as a whole. As junior Brianna states, “Everybody here is a family.” Such is why, while remaining competitive, Stella, a freshman, can say she is excited to “[Watch] all the other shows.” Of course, they want to win—who doesn’t?—but they want to, keeping in mind the theme of their show, remember what matters most: love and family.
Looking forward, their main desire is to get better and make it to finals. Molly says, “I’m just excited to keep improving and working hard,” while Brianna adds onto this, “I would love to see everybody make it to finals. I feel like everybody puts in good work.” Stella is most excited for the far future: “I can not wait to learn what our new show is going to be and meet new people who want to join.” TriState can not wait to see what Lakota West’s JV can do and hopes to see them at championships this year!
by Landon Ashcraft, TMA Media
