8-26-2017 3:57pm

Gallery: Saline Marching Band Opens 2017 Season at The Big House

The Saline High School Marching Band debuted at the University of Michigan Stadium Thursday, when Saline faced Rockford in the Hornets’ season opening game.

There are 195 students in the marching band, said Nate Lampman, director of bands for Saline Area Schools.

Every year, the band performs the national anthem and school fight song before the game. This year’s halftime routine is a Latin music show, with a little bit of Latin rock, Latin jazz, tango and Latin pop.

“The band has been working hard with great focus at the beginning of the season,” Lampman said. “We are especially proud of all our new members who have learned so much in such a short time, and all our student leaders who are doing an outstanding job. The band is off to a great start and looking forward to performing.”

Anna Loughman, a senior, and Michael Lance, a junior, return as drum leaders. The section laders are Tricia Becker, piccolo, Emma Walters, clarinet, Claire Kalem, alto sax, Leah Keller, tenor sax, Melina McCabe and Alex Mah, trumpet, Meghan Ringle, mellophone, Ian Cooper, trombone, Ainsley Caldwell, baritone, Justin Campbell, sousaphone, Jake Leslie, snare drum, Phong Hoang, tenor drums, Adam Heisler, tenor drums, Jake White, cymbals, Josh Winslow, bass drum, Anna Sellers, color guard, and Kelly Coughlin and Amada Coy, majorettes.

To prepare for the 2017 season, the marching band endured three days of six-hour rehearsals. The work continued at band camp at Spring Arbor University. The band had two four-hour rehearsals to prepare for the opening game against Rockford.

Now that the season has begun, the band has resumed its normal rehearsal schedule – two hours on Monday night and three rehearsals a week from 6:45 to 7:30 a.m.

Catch the Saline Marching Band in action Friday night as Saline hosts Mumford.