Hutchinson High School senior Jackson Bush has played his tuba in the school's Marching Tigers since eighth grade.
“I love the feeling of marching in front of hundreds of people,” he said. “It's just a great (marching) community. Everyone is friends. It's great family experience.”
That's what brings him back each year, but he's also noticed the program has pushed him to improve as a musician more than any other experience.
“It gives high school kids a way to keep playing after school is out (for the summer),” Bush said.
Thanks to money given from Hutchinson residents and business through the school's Music Boosters over the past three years, Bush's final year in marching band may see him fit with a new uniform — one that's more appropriate for sticky summer days.
“Right now the uniforms are made of wool,” he said. “When you are in wool at 100 degrees, that gets hot. Kids are guzzling water.”
As of early this week, the Music Boosters were about $1,000 away from an early goal of $47,000 to place an order for 100 of 150 uniforms needed for the growing program. The final bill is expected to come to $70,000.
The band hopes to receive the first 100 uniforms this year to meet the needs of the current roster.
“This will be my fifth year in Hutchinson,” said Kevin Kleindl, head director of the marching band and band teacher at Hutchinson High School. “When I got to Hutchinson, there were right around 50 kids and this last year we marched with 75 kids.”
Bush credited Kleindl's leadership for the program's growth, as well as his promotion of it, and members' promotion after a run of successful years.
“We are getting more competitive,” Kleindl said. “A couple of years ago we won our class championship, and that helped boost numbers. Like any team, you get better and more kids want to get involved.”
This year, he said, the Marching Tigers faced stiffer competition.
“It wasn't as great as we thought it would be, but the kids from the beginning of the end grew as musicians,” Kleindl said. “The growth throughout the season was good. We also went to more difficult competitions and stepped up our game.”
He expects the program to continue growing, and need those 150 uniforms, based on trends. The program gained about 25 new members each year the past few years, offset by departing seniors. But after this past year, the marching band only said farewell to three seniors.
The Music Boosters are also seeking to keep the ball rolling on its fundraising in preparation for a good year for the Minnesota Lynx WNBA team. Hutchinson's Lindsay Whalen plays point guard for the team. This past year, when the Lynx were in the finals, the Marching Tigers were asked to perform in the team's celebration if it won the championship.
The Lynx lost in the last second of the final game, but fans hope to see the team seize victory this year, as it did in 2011, 2013 and 2015. As of Monday, the Minnesota Lynx were ranked No. 1 with a 15-2 record.
The Marching Tigers hope to be invited again.
“We are optimistic,” Kleindl said.
The sooner the money is raised, the sooner the Music Boosters can work with a uniform manufacturer to have the uniforms completed in time for the September playoffs.
“They will be fitted uniforms,” Kleindl said. “They are not like a football uniform where you can throw it on. You have to make sure it fits right.”
Bush said there is something special about seeing a band march with slick, new uniforms that have the right fit.
Those who wish to donate to the uniforms can find the Music Boosters online at http://hutchmusicboosters.weebly.com, or send mail to Hutchinson Music Boosters, PO Box 82, Hutchinson, Minnesota, 55350.
The band also plans to sell their old uniforms.
“If anyone wants to purchase them, much like old football jerseys, we will sell them for 25 bucks a pop,” Kleindl said.
