By Lianna Arenas

Primarily inspired by George Orwell’s 1984’s dystopian society, the Fabulous Marching Cavaliers (FMC) used this novel as a model when hosting a competition a week ago with their piece “Watching You” at Drums Along the Boulevard.

In their performance, the FMC wanted to portray that we live in a time of constant observation whether we want it or not. According to band director John Boyd, “As the show evolves, develops and finishes, the audience can see situations where maybe things that shouldn’t be recorded are. We are conveying the Orwellian universe and society that we live in now.”

Senior drum major Savannah Corbliss noted that today’s society is mirroring the novel in many ways, included the concept of Big Brother [watching you].

The color guards represented the overall emotional portrayal of the show by wearing the menacing colors of red and black. When performing in Drums Along the Boulevard, the FMC wore new uniforms after 17 years of the same uniforms they’ve been performing in.

“It was the first time we performed in that specific uniform,” said Corbliss. “It was a bit different than what we were used to. [The FMC] now know what it’s like to perform in that uniform and need to begin to become comfortable in it.”

Boyd further added that “the old uniform is great and still looks great, but [the FMC] were trying to convey the idea of the show.”

Since Princess Anne was hosting the competition,it wasn’t ranked; however, Kellam, Cox, Tallwood, and Grassfield ranked highest in each of their groups.

“We did not compete,” said Boyd. “It’s not polite to invite people to your show and compete with them because you’re paying the judges. Also it’s not really polite to win trophies when you invited people to come to your show.”

There was an array of emotions on Saturday, such as excitement and exhaustion.

“We had a long day. We had rehearsal from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.,” said Boyd. “We helped the other band directors set up the show. We guided bands all day long. Then we performed at 7:30 p.m.. At this point the kids had to get back in their clothes from the uniforms and finish out the show. Emotions that day were that the kids were tired, but excited to perform in an only marching band audience.”

Field captain Quinn Corbliss also agrees that the competition was filled with excitement, yet was a bit stressful as well.

“This was my [last participation in a competition] with me being a senior,” said Quinn Corbliss. “I felt like I was way more prepared in this one than most of the other ones.”

Both Quinn and Savannah Corbliss hold the highest positions possible in student leadership in the FMC.

“We have to deal with leadership, getting asked questions on what is going on, hosting the show, and preparing for the show, but I wouldn’t change it,” said Savannah Corbliss. “I would do everything exactly the same because we were so into the show so early on that we can perform it well for the first competition and I’m glad that it was my last first one.”

“It was good to finally have an audience to see what [the FMC] were doing,” said Boyd. “We had just put a new movement, Part 3, out. It was also good to see our color guard costumes and uniform tops. For bad parts, we kind of fell apart in the middle. We kind of got over excited which will happen for our first show for people, especially at a home show.”

Savannah Corbliss further added that the FMC did really well on Part 3 after just learning it the day before the show. “Some things we can work on is being able to feel the pulse of the music,” she said. “Some people have trouble feeling the pulse and the tempo, so it’s something they can work on to know where they are in the music while also marching the drill.”

Quinn Corbliss thinks the FMC did well staying on task.

“When everyone got there, everyone was ready to go and ready to work as soon as they showed up, which was very encouraging,” said Quinn Corbliss.

Boyd wants the staff and students to know that the FMC are the hardest working kids and do it for the school.

“We welcome people to come to watch our practice and come watch our shows,” Boyd said. “These performances are here to specifically to engage and entertain.”