Nearly 250 high school students from across Montana joined the Spirit of the West marching band at Montana State University (MSU) on September 20. The event, known as Band Day, took place at Bobcat Stadium during a football game against Mercyhurst University.
The participating students represented 24 towns in Montana, including rural communities such as Colstrip, Simms, and Sweet Grass. Many of these high schoolers had never performed with a group larger than a dozen members before joining the 450-piece ensemble at MSU. Nathan Stark, director of bands at MSU, emphasized the impact of this experience for the visiting students.
“To come and be a member of a 450-piece group, I mean, what a difference,” Stark said. “The purpose of Band Day is to bring high schoolers together in an environment where they can experience the grandeur of music making and positivity we have here at MSU. They’re going to go back to their schools excited and energized and ready to bring that same energy to their bands.”
Spirit of the West has been inviting Montana high school bands for over two decades, with Band Day becoming an annual tradition for about ten years. The day began with section leaders from Spirit of the West working with high schoolers on MSU tunes and instrument movement techniques.
“When we have high schools coming to visit us, it’s the same energetic, fun-loving people that meet them and start the day off on a positive note,” Stark said.
After initial instruction sessions, all participants rehearsed near Brick Breeden Fieldhouse. They practiced MSU’s pre-game fight song and halftime performance pieces such as “Land of a Thousand Dances” and “Holiday.” Students had just over an hour to learn both choreography and music.
During their field performance at Bobcat Stadium, students formed formations spelling out “Band Day,” filling in letters alongside Spirit of the West members. Stark described witnessing the large ensemble perform: “I remember looking up at the sky and the horizon thinking, ‘I’ve got to be the luckiest guy in the world,’ sitting up in the scissor lift while 450 people perform in front of me.”
He also allowed high school band directors to view their students’ performance from above. Stark noted that Band Day aims not only to inspire students but also their teachers.
Following Band Day, he received feedback from directors across Montana who appreciated both peer mentorship opportunities for students and professional inspiration for themselves. One director from Billings highlighted mentorship by section leaders; another from Harlowton called it invaluable as a first-year teacher.
High school musicians continued playing throughout the football game alongside Spirit of the West between timeouts and downs. The Bobcat football team won 17-0.
“The bands got to play for the team, play for the fans and cheer on the Bobcats,” Stark said. “It was a great day.”
