SoCo Marching Showcase returns to Pueblo County High on Oct. 10

James Bartolo, The Pueblo Chieftain
·2 min read

Twelve Southern Colorado marching bands from Fountain-Fort Carson to Pueblo and Trinidad will be in town on Monday, Oct. 10 for the sixth annual SoCo Marching Showcase.

The showcase will be held at Pueblo County High School's Hornet Stadium, 1050 35th Lane, at 5:30 p.m. The event is less than two weeks before the Colorado Bandmasters Association Regional Competitions and will feature bands performing choreographed routines that are hundreds of hours in the making.

Most bands started designing and editing their routines at a June mini-camp, which was followed by "full-camp" in July, Pueblo County High School Band Director Josh Muller said.

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Over the past decade and a half, the art of marching band has changed tremendously, Mueller said.

"It's not just marching and playing," Muller said. "It's way more dance, way more choreography. We have a lot of electronics, vocalists, sound effects. Our show this year will feature a singer. They are just like short musical productions, like a little show."

Muller has hosted the SoCo Marching Showcase since 2015, when he was the band director at Pueblo Centennial High School. With regional competitions on Oct. 19, the showcase is designed to be "judged but not competitive," Muller said. Instead of scores, the panel of four judges will provide bands with "hints" and direct instruction on how to fine-tune routines before competitions.

Participating bands at this year's showcase include those from Buena Vista High School, Florence High School, the 5A finalist Fountain Fort-Carson High School, Pueblo Centennial High School, Pueblo Central High School, Pueblo County High School, Pueblo East High School, Pueblo South High School, Pueblo West High School, Rocky Ford Junior Senior High School and Trinidad High School.

The Thunderwolf Marching Band from Colorado State University Pueblo will also perform at the SoCo Marching Showcase.

Each band's performance will have a specific theme. For example, Pueblo County will perform a zombie-themed routine, "The Marching Dead." Pueblo Centennial will have a forest-themed performance. Fountain-Fort Carson's performance, titled "Groove," will feature music from Cardi B and other hip-hop artists.

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The SoCo Marching Showcase is open to members of the public. Tickets are $8 for adults and $5 for students, seniors and military. Concessions will be sold.

Pueblo Chieftain reporter James Bartolo can be reached by email at JBartolo@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: 12 Southern Colorado marching bands to perform routines in Pueblo