The band will hold its annual March-A-Thon parade on Sept. 10 at 9 a.m. in Castle Hills. There will also be a small concert held for the community at the village shops at Castle Hills at 11 a.m.

“The band March-A-Thon is a stamina endurance building event for us, physically,” head band director Andy Sealy said. “It is a chance for us to play a lot in the community and interact with other community members through playing special requests in the neighborhood.”

The band holds concerts in people’s backyard for a price of $150 during the event. People around the neighborhood get to conduct the band as well.  

“[Castle Hills residents] love it,” sophomore Danitza Raborg said. “Especially band parents [and] especially if we play in their backyard. The guy who paid for us to play “Back In Black” was so happy; he was jamming out. It was so precious.”

Sealy said the fundraiser project raised $15,000 last year. That money is used to help the band pay expenses. Some of the sponsors for this year are Dillas Quesadillas, Pines Realty Group and Chick-Fil-A.

“The money could be going to new equipment,” Sealy said. “Mostly, it goes to entry fees, snacks on contest days for the kids, being able to buy water and being able to purchase and repair instruments and equipment that are needed. It’s really a general operating expense for our booster club support group.” 

The event has been going on annually for 20 years. The band has marched through local neighborhoods such as Homestead, Indian Creek, Coyote Ridge and Castle Hills. 

“We have been in Castle Hills the last several years because we can go down to the shops at Castle Hills and play a stand-still concert by the lake and interact with the community a little bit better,” Sealy said. “They have seating in the shade and stuff like that.”

The March-A-Thon will be a shorter route this year, being two-to-three miles. The practices are around two hours. The band will meet up 30 minutes before to talk about planning for the march. 

“Usually it is a pretty exciting event because it’s just fun,” drum major Senior Suhani Rana said. “We are not worried about the directors getting mad at us for missing some choreography or missing the notes. We get to dance along with our section, add fun choreo, talk with our friends while we march and play at people’s houses that we know. It is a really entertaining time.”