Webster High School Marching Band 2002 Field Show: "Defiance!"

The history of the Webster High School Marching Band has been one of challenging music, drill, and color guard work. The idea has always been to challenge each student to set high standards of performance for themselves, while giving the entire ensemble the look and feel of sophistication. The premise that it is far better to excel at our level of performance, while challenging the students, has set us apart from many of the bands that we compete against. While this approach may have hindered us from "winning" specific trophies over the years, the overall sense of accomplishment, and our own recognition of the level of excellence we reach, has given this organization a standard of which so many others are envious. It is this thought that inspires this year's program.

For years, we have been criticized for challenging our students with complicated and difficult music. Further, the criticism came because we chose to physically challenge our students with complicated and arduous drill movement and equipment work. Others took the easier routes and so were able to be "cleaner". The depth of what we do seemed to get lost because mistakes could be seen. The fact that our students were doing so much more, and quite honestly, achieving at a much higher degree because of the responsibilities placed on them, seemed to take a back seat to the simpler and what appeared to be cleaner shows. Taking that into consideration, we endeavored to cut back in an effort to be like the rest.

It just wasn't the same. It wasn't Webster.

So this year we are going back to the challenging. This year we are showing our Defiance! This year we are putting our hearts on our sleeve and we are putting all of those qualities into our production that made Webster so very proud. Against the wishes of the powers that be, we are going to challenge our students and captivate the audience with the music of Dmitri Shostakovich. The bold music of his 4th Ballet Suite will leave you breathless from sheer dynamic voicing interludes. Festive Overture will keep you breathless with its quick tempo and full ensemble sound.

Just as Shostakovich continued to write his music depicting Russia, despite condemnation and criticism from Stalin and Lenin, we will perform our style of programming to the delight of our audiences.

...Dick Fischette, director