The Pride of Elkhart Marching Band is charging headfirst into a “sweet,” new season! After competing earlier this past month at Goshen’s Invitational and more recently at Bands of America Toledo, the group’s stellar performance in the Oct. 4 C.G. Conn Invitational on Rice Field showed just how artful and talented these musicians are.
This year’s show is entitled “Coco Cocoa,” which features a tasteful combination of Coco Chanel and cocoa chocolate. The marchers, dressed as half-unwrapped chocolate bars, go hand in hand with the colorguard so that this chocolate fantasy is fully realized. Chocolate truffles and bars aresprinkled throughout the field and provide another reason to be immersed: “The props are an amazing visual element,” says Mr. Riley Girton, one of the directors of EHS bands. “Not only do they catch your eye, but they also set up the field in a way that makes the drill work really well.”
Apart from the props, the music plays a crucial role in the character of the show. Ms. Lauren Weirich, director of the colorguard, explains that “the show is designed as shorter vignettes with various soloists…The sound design and props help connect the concepts of ‘Coco’ and ‘Cocoa.’” Girton agrees, stating that the props “catch your eye” and “add a dynamic visual element to the show.”
Music selections (as performed on Sept.20) include the following: Coco before Chanel by Alexandre Desplat, A Chocolate Sunday on a Saturday Night by Doris Day, and Chocolate from The Nutcracker by Pyotr Tchaikovsky. Each of these pieces marry the theme of chocolate across the entire ensemble. The variety of music selections shows the versatility of not only the concept, but the band itself. From the snappy quality of the Doris Day homage to the froufrou waltz of Tchaikovsky, the show has reflected the myriad aspects of Coco Chanel and Chocolate.The materialism of “Coco” and peppery spirit of “Cocoa” has not always been clear to convey to an outsider. But, in collaboration with the music, props, choreography and directors, the Pride of Elkhart has helped fully realize the essence of the show.
