Knights set to make 25th appearance

The Northview Marching Knights are scheduled to perform at 10:52 a.m. Saturday in the Indiana State School Music Association Marching State Finals. Courtesy Photo

Typically, the final Saturday of the month, the Northview Marching Knights have traveled up to Indianapolis to perform in the Indiana State School Music Association Marching State Finals.

They have done so 25 years overall.

Despite the regularity, NHS band director Bob Medworth said all of the trips have been worthwhile to him and his staff.

"Every year is special to me because of the hard work and effort it takes to get there," Medworth said. "I think sometimes, people take it for granted, but in reality, it is an accomplishment to get back there each year."

The Knights are scheduled to perform in the 2009 Class B State Finals at 10:52 a.m. They will be the fifth band to perform in the class Saturday at Lucas Oil Stadium.

Heading into the final week of the 2009 campaign, Medworth said the Knights have been tweaking their performance.

"We still have a lot to do," he said. "No changes, but a few small additions."

He said he hopes the Knights are able to break a consistency problem that has developed.

"Our big problem is consistency," he said. "We don't do every chunk of the show the same three times in a row and we need to get to that point.

"The answer to consistency is getting it fixed and then doing it a number of times to build in muscle memory. Then you have to do it in context of bigger chunks of the show to make sure that mental or physical fatigue is not part of the problem."

Another point of focus this week for Northview has been sound. Medworth said there is a vast difference in playing indoors as opposed to outdoor stadiums.

"You have to worry more about sound issues," he said. "Lucas Oil is great for band contests, if you have good seats. And the judges have the best seats in the house. They will be able to hear everything, including individuals.

"We have to really make sure that stuff that might be getting past us outside in the elements and area noise is caught and fixed."

The students on the 2009 Marching Knights roster have gone through a great deal of adversity this season. However, Medworth said they appear ready to perform.

"They are fine," he said. "Like about everything we do, they handle it better than the adults. They need to stay focused on the (rehearsals) and not get caught up in winning.

"Every group is different. Different kids, different funny things, different problems. Each group is unique and their own personality takes over."

With all the adversity the Knights have been through this season, some might believe they are the sentimental favorite. But when it comes time for NMK to take the field for its performance, Medworth said it's all up to the judges.

"I don't think that will matter when Saturday gets here," he said, "and the judges start judging. They are not aware of what we have been through."

Since 1984, Northview has captured seven first-place finishes among all state Class B bands, including winning back-to-back state titles twice. The Marching Knights won state titles in 1993-94 and 1998-99.

Medworth said winning a second-straight state title this year would be wonderful, but he just wants his group to focus on the performance.

"It would be great, and it sounds good," he said. "But we just need to focus on getting better. Thinking about it does not help us get better and is brain time wasted."

ISSMA State Finals Info

The Northview Marching Knights will perform at the 2009 Indiana State School Music Association Class B State Finals at 10:52 a.m., Saturday, at Lucas Oil Stadium.

Doors to the event will open at 9 a.m. Tickets are available for $20 for adults and $18 for children and students ages 3-18. Children under 2 will be admitted free.