The Marching Atoms march their way into a new school year. They are made up of members from the Color Guard, Wind Ensemble, Concert, Jazz, and Symphonic Bands. They are most known for the incredible performances at pep rallies, football games and at their very own concerts and competitions.

The Marching Atoms are hard working soldiers when it comes to practicing. This year they started basic camp on Aug. 6th, three weeks before school started. In the mornings they’d learn the basic fundamentals of marching and in the afternoons they’d work on music.

“That’s where we learned all of our skills and technique to be able to do the choreography in the show well,” senior Elizabeth Platt said. She is co-captain of the color guard.

Platt wants her section to try their best throughout their whole performance.

“I want them to be perfect, but that’s not always achievable. As long as they try and they put on the best show to their ability, I’ll be happy” Platt said.

They delivered an impressive performance at the Homecoming game right after the winners of the king and queen were announced, Hangyul Chang who is section leader of the piccolutes and Amber Untch a drum major.

Unfortunately, they couldn’t finish their halftime show because of the third quarter, but they did their performance again after the game. During the game, some Marching Band alumni came back to perform and show their support for both the game and the new Marching Band.

“They were so good, I couldn’t keep my eyes off them, there was so much happening I didn’t know where to look,” sophomore Lissel Lopez said.

Their performance title for this year is, “The Greatest Show.” For the idea of the show Joseph Witkowski, the band teacher collaborated with the marching band design team, the drill writer David James, and other people on his staff.

“It was kind of inspired by The Greatest Showman movie and there is a little music from it, but it’s a lot more circus imagery we’re doing,” Witkowski said

“The performance changes every year, but this year the choreography is much more fun and silly,” Platt said. We have a lot more individual moments rather than one or two solos. The color guard and the band also interact more in this show.”

Costumes of the color guard performers are also very unique and have a modern look. “It’s got tails in the back like a ringmaster would wear, so it kind of has that circus imagery. It is very playful and fits the silliness of a circus,” Witkowski said.

Some of the songs they will be playing are “Entry Of The Gladiators” by Julius Fucik, “Send In The Clowns” by Stephen Sondheim, and “This Is Me,” from The Greatest Showman.

“We want to try and find music that is going to be interesting for the students and have educational value to them,” Witkowski said, “as well as entertaining the crowd.”