Tyson Madsen looks back on dream come true marching band season
BY DANI TIETZ
dani@mahometnews.com
The St. Joseph-Ogden Marching band had a dream-come-true kind of season.
It wasn’t just because they took third place at the University of Illinois Marching Band Competition. It wasn’t just because they placed second and received recognition for Best Music at the McKendree University Small Band Marching Competition.
Their dreams did not just come true because they put on a great show at the Normal Marching Band Invitational, taking second in Class 2A and best in class for Color Guard and Percussion or because they placed third at the Morton Invitational or third in 2A at Washington Community High School.
The accolades are something that propelled the Spartans through the long two-month competition season. But the day-to-day, the friendships, the doing-something-you-didn’t-
First-year drum major Tyson Madsen set down his trumpet for his junior year to fulfill his dream of leading the group.
“Ever since the very first day of marching band camp my freshman year, I looked up to the drum major and wanted to become one,” Madsen said. “Knowing that I would be given the opportunity to help the band grow and help them have a good experience with music was a major factor.”
The family-like atmosphere that permeated the 51-member band this year led all members to give their all to make sure that their show was something special for the St. Joseph-Ogden community.
Madsen said the change from band uniforms to costumes, marching to music, to telling a story was something that drew everyone in.
The Spartans performed in red-tail coats and grey Victorian wigs to tell the story of musicians who sold their souls for success and fame. Upon death, the musicians are resurrected every hundred years to perform as the price for their bargain.
Although Madsen had his back turned to the crowd so that he could lead the band, the way the SJ-O crowd reacted to the band’s opening performance at the first home football game on Aug. 30 will be something he will remember forever.
“In previous years, halftime for most of the crowd was when the band comes on, you leave to do whatever you need to do, and maybe you catch the last bit of the show when you come to sit back down,” Madsen said.
“Some band members and I were worried that this year might be the same way. We tried to build hype throughout the school for the show, but there was no telling if people would actually pay attention.”
As the Spartans took the field, playing through their first song, they knew the crowd was larger than it had been in recent years, but they didn’t know what to expect.
“Until the end of the first song, I had no idea if people were even paying attention,” Madsen said.
“I just blocked it out and focused on the performance. The moment we ended the first song and had a pause, there was an applause much bigger than any we had ever gotten. I froze, and all I could do was smile.”
Madsen waited to begin the second song so that his peers on the field could take the moment in.
“That was the first of many large applauses we got this season and a feeling that I will always remember,” he continued.
Getting to the point of perfection was difficult for the Spartans, though.
Their motto, “prepare to be judged, perform to be loved” kept them focused even when things got tough.
Madsen remembers being at band camp in July when Hess announced that they were going to waltz and march in a circle while also playing music.
“The band kind of stopped and had a moment of ‘Wait, you said we’re going to do what?’” Madsen said.
“A lot of (the band members) thought we were gonna have to change it and that it was too hard, but eventually we rehearsed it so much that it easily became one of our favorite parts of the show,” he said.
Madsen believes this year’s performance is a stepping stone to something more next year.
But just as in years past, he is mostly just looking forward to growing with his band family.
“I’ve met such amazing people through marching band, most of which are my best and closest friends,” Madsen said. “I’ve seen time after time that even though sometimes there are arguments or drama in band, if something bad happens we are all here for each other.”
Just like the SJ-O community was there walking with the band this year.
“I’d just like to say thank you to everyone who has supported our show this season,” Madsen said.
“This show has been amazing to put on, but it wouldn’t be anywhere near where it was without the support of people like the Maroon Platoon, the parents, and the faculty.
“On behalf of the band, thank you for everything.”
