Patriots set for contests

The summer competition schedule for the Marching Patriots kicks off Thursday night in Centerville.
Jay County High School’s marching band will be performing a medley of tunes centered around the theme, “What happens in Vegas … live, love, and luck,” says JCHS band director Kelly Smeltzer, now in his sixth year at the helm.
A tribute to live entertainment in Las Vegas includes the Elvis hit “Viva Las Vegas.”
“You’ll see a couple of live Vegas icons,” says Smeltzer, including an Elvis sighting.
That’s followed by the love segment, featuring “The Way You Look Tonight,” a popular ballad performed by Frank Sinatra among others.
During that number, the band will form a heart, with the guard at its center for a featured performance.
Then comes “Luck Be a Lady Tonight” from the musical “Guys and Dolls.”
This year’s performance was arranged by Alex Yoder, Fort Wayne, a Ball State University graduate who is filling the shoes of longtime JCHS arranger Les Taylor.
It was Taylor who recommended Yoder for the job.
Here’s the line-up for the summer schedule:
•Thursday, July 15 — Centerville.
•Friday, July 16 — Muncie South.
•Thursday, July 22 — Jay County band contest at the fairgrounds.
•Friday, July 23 — Delaware County.
All contests begin at 7 p.m.
Band camp runs from July 27 through 31.
The pre-state fair preview performance and ice cream social is set for Sunday, Aug. 1, with the social from 5 to 6:30 p.m. and the performance at 7 p.m.
Band Day at the Indiana State Fair is Friday, Aug. 6.
Today’s edition of The Commercial Review includes a special section devoted to the band with photos of every section.[[In-content Ad]]