A recent addition to the Iola High School band has instructor Matt Kleopfer higher than ever.
Literally.
As the Marching Mustangs prepare for their final football game performance of the year Thursday, they recently became the grateful recipients of a project involving Charlie Kerr’s vocational agriculture students.
The ag students erected a 24-foot metal stand, perfect for Kleopfer to watch the band as it goes through its drills on the field.
Just in the nick of time.
Kleopfer has taken full advantage of the group’s final practices as they put the finishing touches on their grand finale “Battle Cry,” a musical depiction of a World War II soldier who must say goodbye to his beloved as he heads off to war.
The band performed a truncated version of “Battle Cry” during Iola’s Homecoming football game to thunderous acclaim.
This week’s version is a bit longer, with an extended ending.
Kleopfer won’t reveal how it ends.
“That’s a surprise,” he said.
Daily practices include physical fitness training in addition to the music.
The students run en masse, military style, clapping and stepping in rhythm with a metronome.
The exercise helps the students keep in time and increase their stamina, Kleopfer said.
“The students have worked very hard at this,” he said.
Thursday’s show will be at halftime of the IHS football game against Anderson County at Iola’s Riverside Park.
There won’t be much time to rest afterward.
Kleopfer will immediately shift mode to “pep band” for the students to perform at IHS basketball games, which begin in early December.
A towering achievement Ag students contribute 24-foot band tower
