User:Olmstead90/Fruitport Trojan Marching Band

Fruitport Trojan Marching Band
The Fruitport Trojan Marching Band is a Flight III competeing marching music ensemble supported and organized by the Fruitport Community Band program. They are typically refurred to as simply "Fruitport" to shorten their name. The ensemble is based out of Fruitport, Michigan. Members are usually derived from Fruitport High or Middle Schools, but some Muskegon Catholic Central and Cavalry Christian Schools have begun to send members of their concert band to compete across the state.

MCBA
Fruitport competes in the Michigan Competeting Band Association (MCBA) ciruit, which bases it's tournament style bracket system around the Drum Corps International (DCI) system of judging. Bands from all over the state come together at local competetions starting in late September to be judged against each other. The point system judges a group out of 100 points. The closer to 100, the higher the band places. The MCBA Season culminates at State Finals in early November, which takes place at Ford Feild in Detroit, Michigan. The top 10 bands in each division (Flight I, II, III, and IV) qualify to compete at State Finals. To be considered for top 10 placement, you must compete in at least four competetions in one season, and have a weighted score (the average of a group's two highest scores) that qualifies the ensemble as a top 10 band.

Recent History
Recently, Fruitport has been a contender at State Finals almost every year since 2000, excluding the years 2003 and 2008. There have been many changes in the program over the last nine years, as the director traded hands from Andy Hall, to Mark Gravengoed, to Jeff Gorring, and finally to current Director of Bands Donald Showich. In 2005 Fruitport dropped it's trombone section and switched them to baritones, attempting to solidify the low brass line and emulate the pure sound of a Drum Corps low brass. In 2009, the band received new uniforms bought by the efforts of the Fruitport Band Parents.

The following is a list of shows and their placement at State Finals for Fruitport over the last few years:

2004: The Need For Speed - 10th Place 2005: Circuitry - 10th Place 2006: Murder in Manhattan - 10th Place 2007: A Journey Through Life - 10th Place 2008: The Composition of Music - 12th Place (didn't qualify for State Placement) 2009: Things That Go Bump in the Night - Season still in progress.

Current Staff
Since their short-coming in 2008, Fruitport has begun to rebuild it's program. The staff of 2008 returns to teach in 2009, with some mild changes, but the more prominent figures remained. Director Donald Showich of course kept his position, as well as Color Guard Caption Head and Assistant Director of Bands Amy Stroh, Percussion Caption Head Cory Daniel, and Brass Caption Head Douglas Olmstead. Newer staff includes Foot Tech Bruce Wright, Color Guard Tech Nicole Merkins, and Woodwind Tech (name TBA).

Past Staff
Past staff includes some more noteable names like SCV vet John McFarland and Capital Regiment vet Nick Daneili, as well as Reethes Puffer's current Guard Caption Head Robert Hazleton.