The Lancaster High School Band of Gold was awarded superior ratings across the board in the recent state finals in Medina, Ohio.  Director Benjamin Factor said that the band was able to score well due to their teamwork and steady growth throughout the 2025 season.

“I think that’s even more important than where you end up. It’s just how many improvements have been made by all the students, especially from some of the newer members in the big group of freshmen. We scored really high; that’s another exciting thing. As we went from the beginning to the end, the scores were always good. Which doesn’t always happen, because a lot of times the judges see things that we might not,” he said.

Factor went on to say that marching band is often very difficult. 

“That’s not a bad thing; that’s a good thing. I think it pushes everybody, including the directors, to be better, so I think musically, physically, and emotionally, it pushes everybody. At first, people would think that’s a bad thing, but if individuals aren’t pushed, there’s no opportunity to be better. They have to rise above it.”

Some band members reflected on the successes and challenges of the 2025 season.

LHS senior field commander Shawn King said that throughout his four years participating in marching band, he’s met amazing people, faced challenges, made many friendships, improved his skills, and, most importantly, enjoyed his experience. 

“My senior marching year has been fun, somewhat easier too, knowing what I’m getting into, unlike freshman year, but also sad realizing that it’s my last year participating in the marching band. One major highlight of my season that I can really think of is receiving the golden plume. That was the first and last time I ever received it,” he said. 

“The only really challenging thing for me this season was the memorization of the show music. That includes queues, crescendos, and so on. I will always remember how much fun everyone has together during the season and the competition weekends. What I’ll miss most about marching band is the experience of being involved with a great group and mainly the people, as some of my best friends are in the band, and not being able to march with them anymore is very upsetting,” said King.

LHS junior field commander Kari Binkley said that they experienced a significant season and is looking forward to their senior year in the marching band.

“Personally, I feel like this season has been the best for me. I felt so much more connected with everyone in the band and so much more connected to the music. I learned how to accept everyone’s differences and to be able to work as a team no matter what,” they said.

“My biggest goal next year is to continue feeling connected to everyone in the band and every section. The success of a performance is a shared responsibility between everyone in the band, bringing us closer together and the will to be better,” said Binkley.

LHS sophomore and flute player Emilie DeLong said that the band community can have a major influence on how well the musicians play. She said she hopes to increase her musical ability and meet the expectations of the seniors.

“This season –  it’s been kind of chaotic . . . But once we got the show down, it all fell into place. At that point, you actually know what you’re doing. And it’s actually really fun,” she said.

“I’ve actually learned a lot from my seniors, especially from Oli Lutz. He’s helped me play a lot better when it comes to technique, and my marching has improved so much because of him. They’re all really positive, and it’s sad to see them go. Since I’m gonna be a junior next year, I’m just going to try to actually practice a lot more and sound better – be at the level my seniors expect,” said DeLong.

“Every section has their own technique to improve, but once we come together as a band, we really have to work harder for it since we’re all in different communities. Either way, we get the job done, and we’re still a supportive team who cares about each other,” she said.

The Band of Gold has a long tradition of awards and honors.  As the largest and most visible musical group, the Band of Gold enthralls audiences with its captivating performances at football games, parades, community events, and various competitions throughout the fall (Lancaster High School Bands).  To see a list of awards and a synopsis of each of the LHS musical groups, visit their webpage at https://lancasterbands.com/awards-and-honors-2/.