Finals!

Saturday. Finals day. As usual, breakfast then onto the busses for one final rehearsal. Although it started out gloomy and raining, the band pushed on to the practice field at the Victoria Institution. Final tuning, tweaking and tinkering all down to this last performance. Light but intense, the focus now, is upon the final, and perhaps BEST show of the year.

One more time, the members of the 2011 Stetson Showband gathered their collective minds and souls to perform what would be an amazing field show. Brass? Ready... Woodwinds? Tuned... Pit and Battery? Psyched... Colorguard? Primed... All in place for The Final Show.

The Stetson's would put everything they had on the field. Emotion, intensity, dynamics, tears of joy. Finishing 7th with an overall mark of 87.9.  At retreat, everyone danced and sang along with Hey Baby! as well as the monster! A mixmaster of bands and Colorgaurd, sounds and colors with flashes from many cameras going off like a huge lightening storm. All dancing to every band playing their favorite songs. 

The night ended with the time honored tradition of Age Out. A finale, for some, a graduation of sorts for others. Moving on to other priorities in their personal growth. Some, staying with the Stetson's band for another year while others move onto the Stampede Show Band or other interests. Either way, the 2011 World Championship Marching Show Bands tour will have given each member memories to reflect upon for a lifetime. We are all very proud of each and every one of you and you should be proud of yourself for the accomplishments you have achieved this year. Congratulations 2011 Stetson's.