With the home opener just one week away, the McLean High School Band moved into their newly-renovated quarters at the high school this week, celebrating by stuffing the instrument cages with stuffed animals.
After practicing indoors, they went to Lewinsville Park to study charts and practice marching.
Graduated senior Stephanie Hrycaj was helping the drill team learn their flag routine as Jim Finch, another grad, helped with a saber drill.
Matt Kuldell, who graduated almost 20 years ago, helped first-year bagpiper Kurt Brendley put together the instrument that will wail the distinctive sound of the McLean Highlanders’ theme.
George Sheppard, who writes and arranges music for the band, listened to a CD on the sidelines with drum instructor Matt Tourville.
The music they studied was an arrangement of “Scottish and Gaelic tunes in a new-age concept transposed for the marching band,” said Sheppard.