GHS Marching Band earns Division 1 rating at state marching band festival in Pella on Oct. 15

 By J.O. Parker
 
     The Grinnell High School Marching Band competed at the Iowa High School Music Association State Marching Band Festival in Pella on Saturday, Oct. 15, earning a Division 1 rating, the highest honor available to a band.
       Grinnell has earned a Division 1 rating at the Pella competition 26 times in the last 28 years.
The 111 member band, which is under the direction of Levi Dressler, performed the show title, “Angels and Demons” by Randall Standridge and four other songs, “The Battle Eternal,” “The Dark Brigade,” “Voices of Light,” and “Dark vs. Light.”
     “The kids made progress all year long,” said Dressler. “They stepped up for that last performance and put together a really good show.”
     Dressler is in his 20th year at Grinnell, having taught high school band for 13 years and seven years as the fifth and sixth grade band director in the district.
     Photo submitted by Cory Hall Photography