Marching band students play throughout Colorado Springs despite canceled championship

High school marching bands throughout Colorado Springs performed Saturday to showcase their hard work after their state championships were canceled due to inclement weather.

Ethan Hall, the band director for Vista Ridge High School, said it was hard to tell his students that the competition was canceled.

With cold temperatures in the forecast, the Colorado Bandmasters Association (CBA) canceled the 2019 4A/5A State Championships scheduled on Oct. 28 and 29. In a Friday web post, CBA said they do not plan on rescheduling the championship due to stadium availability and other factors.

"Of course it's a huge bummer," Hall said. "You know you can't control the weather and for safety reasons they had to make the call. But it was still an unpleasant conversation to have with the students who just worked so hard leading up to this moment." 

Still, Hall said schools throughout Colorado Springs were holding their own events to showcase all the students' talent. 

"It's not an original idea," he said. "Everyone in Colorado Springs is kinda doing the same thing so it's just a chance for all the high schools to end their season on a positive note." 

Jordan Mead, a senior drum major for Vista Ridge, said it was a bittersweet end to her high school marching band career.

"I've loved this season," Mead said. "It's probably been my favorite one but it's been exhausting. Every time we perform we all put every bit of our effort and leave it on the field." 

Cooper Gorospe, who also is a senior drum major, agrees with Mead.

"I think honestly it was really more special to be able to do it at home turf in front of friends and family," Gorospe said. "And I think just being able to perform together one last time is what matters."