The Perry High School Band is continuing to make strides under its third year director.

Band Director Blaine Schmidt says the marching band season was a success as the ensemble took home a Division I rating at the Iowa High School Music Association State Marching Band contest in Class 3A. Schmidt points out this was the first time in seven years the Perry Marching Band earned a Division I at the state marching band contest.

“The kids were ecstatic. I announced it when we were on the bus headed to the mall for our lunch, there was lots of cheering and they were all super excited. Every year I start the year with my leadership talking about goals that they have, things they’d like to accomplish. Usually way more than one person will mention, ‘We want to go for that Division I rating.’ So we got it, they were super excited.”       

Schmidt notes this was the first time since he started as the band director at Perry to add a color guard back onto the field with the band. Now that jazz band season has started, Schmidt is excited to get that going because he has all parts filled for that ensemble.

“The normal instrumentation for your standard jazz band is four trumpets, four trombones, five saxophones, and then usually a five piece rhythm section. This year is the first year that I have four trumpets. So I’ve been with three trumpets for the past couple (of years), so I’ve got all four trumpets this time, and then this is also the first time that I have a guitar player. I’ve got a full instrumentation this year for the first time, which is awesome.”

Schmidt is planning to have the jazz band perform at two festivals, including the IHSMA Jazz Festival, as well as the Southeast Polk Jazz Festival.