Lewis Cass' Indoor Winds band excels with state meet looming

Mar. 8—WALTON — Shakespeare's "A Comedy of Errors" states in Act 3, Scene 1 that "There is something in the wind, that we cannot get in."

But the 38 musicians of Lewis Cass' inside marching band want everyone to know they can get into this. In its fifth year, the Indoor Winds band continues to excel and bring home first-place at statewide events.

They're hoping to continue that trend on Saturday when they compete in the Scholastic A Class division at Greenfield Central High School's invitational at 3:15 p.m.

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Hailee Boehme, in green, a senior at Lewis Cass Jr./Sr. High School, rehearses a portion of her choreography with the rest of the Indoor Winds band behind her on Thursday, March 4, 2021 in Walton. The group is rehearsing for a Saturday competition at Greenfield-Central before moving on to State at the end of the month.

Photos by Jonah Hinebaugh — Pharos-Tribune

Indoor Winds is an Indiana Percussion Association-sponsored music competition that is fairly new, said Tyler Long, who serves at the group's director and as assistant band director for the school. Indiana Winds differs slightly from a traditional outdoor marching band.

There are seven schools competing in this year's program. But due to COVID-19, which caused the fall marching season to be canceled, Long has seen an uptick in interest. Before the pandemic, he said, there were three or four schools participating.

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cass indoor winds 0001.jpg

Hailee Boehme, in green, a senior at Lewis Cass Jr./Sr. High School, rehearses a portion of her choreography with the rest of the Indoor Winds band behind her on Thursday, March 4, 2021 in Walton. The group is rehearsing for a Saturday competition at Greenfield-Central before moving on to State at the end of the month.

* Photos by Jonah Hinebaugh — Pharos-Tribune

cass indoor winds 0002.jpg

Devin Rector, 18, center, rehearses with other members of Lewis Cass' Indoor Winds band on Thursday, March 4, 2021 in Walton. The group is performing a piece titled "Night at the Museum" which features excerpts from "Pictures at an Exhibition."

* Jonah Hinebaugh — Pharos-Tribune

cass indoor winds 0003.jpg

A portion of the Lewis Cass Indoor Winds band rehearses on the floor of the gym on Thursday, March 4, 2021 in Walton. The 38 students will compete on Saturday at Greenfield-Central.

* Jonah Hinebaugh — Pharos-Tribune

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Gracie Collins, 18, center, plays the clarinet during an Indoor Winds band rehearsal on Thursday, March 4, 2021 in Walton.

* Photos by Jonah Hinebaugh — Pharos-Tribune

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Tyler Long, assistant band director for Lewis Cass Jr./Sr. High School and head of the Indoor Winds band, directs a rehearsal on Thursday, March 4, 2021 in Walton.

* Jonah Hinebaugh — Pharos-Tribune

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Members of the Lewis Cass indoor winds band warm-up before a rehearsal on Thursday, March 4, 2021 in Walton.

* Jonah Hinebaugh — Pharos-Tribune

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Percussionists warm-up before an indoor winds band rehearsal on Thursday, March 4, 2021 in Walton.

* Jonah Hinebaugh — Pharos-Tribune

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Members of the Lewis Cass indoor winds band's color guard pose before a run through of their piece on Thursday, March 4, 2021 in Walton.

* Jonah Hinebaugh — Pharos-Tribune

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Gracie Collins, left, and another Lewis Cass student perform the beginning of the indoor winds band's "Night at the Museum" piece on Thursday, March 4, 2021 in Walton.

* Jonah Hinebaugh — Pharos-Tribune

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Mellophone players perform choreography during an indoor winds band rehearsal on Thursday, March 4, 2021 in Walton.

* Jonah Hinebaugh — Pharos-Tribune

(gallery only) cass indoor winds 0011.JPG

Lewis Cass students rehearse their 'Night at the Museum" piece in preparation for a Saturday competition on Thursday, March 4, 2021 in Walton.

* Jonah Hinebaugh — Pharos-Tribune

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A member of the indoor winds band color guard performs during a rehearsal on Thursday, March 4, 2021 in Walton.

* Jonah Hinebaugh — Pharos-Tribune

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Lewis Cass indoor winds band students pose during rehearsal on Thursday, March 4, 2021 in Walton.

* Jonah Hinebaugh — Pharos-Tribune

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A saxophone player for Lewis Cass' indoor winds band performs during a rehearsal on Thursday, March 4, 2021 in Walton.

* Jonah Hinebaugh — Pharos-Tribune

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Members of the Lewis Cass indoor winds band rehearse on Thursday, March 4, 2021 in Walton.

* Jonah Hinebaugh — Pharos-Tribune

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Hailee Boehme, left, and other members of the color guard perform a part of their choreography during a rehearsal on Thursday, March 4, 2021 in Walton.

* Jonah Hinebaugh — Pharos-Tribune

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Hailee Boehme, in green, and the rest of the indoor winds band rehearse on Thursday, March 4, 2021 in Walton.

* Jonah Hinebaugh — Pharos-Tribune

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Members of the Lewis Cass indoor winds band watch the color guard rehearse on Thursday, March 4, 2021 in Walton.

* Jonah Hinebaugh — Pharos-Tribune

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Hailee Boehme, left, trots across stage with other member of the indoor winds band behind her during a rehearsal on Thursday, March 4, 2021 in Walton.

* Jonah Hinebaugh — Pharos-Tribune

(gallery only) cass indoor winds 0019.JPG

Members of the Lewis Cass indoor winds band watch the color guard rehearse on Thursday, March 4, 2021 in Walton.

* Jonah Hinebaugh — Pharos-Tribune

PHOTOS: Lewis Cass Indoor Winds band prepares for competition

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cass indoor winds 0001.jpg

Hailee Boehme, in green, a senior at Lewis Cass Jr./Sr. High School, rehearses a portion of her choreography with the rest of the Indoor Winds band behind her on Thursday, March 4, 2021 in Walton. The group is rehearsing for a Saturday competition at Greenfield-Central before moving on to State at the end of the month.

* Photos by Jonah Hinebaugh — Pharos-Tribune

cass indoor winds 0002.jpg

Devin Rector, 18, center, rehearses with other members of Lewis Cass' Indoor Winds band on Thursday, March 4, 2021 in Walton. The group is performing a piece titled "Night at the Museum" which features excerpts from "Pictures at an Exhibition."

* Jonah Hinebaugh — Pharos-Tribune

cass indoor winds 0003.jpg

A portion of the Lewis Cass Indoor Winds band rehearses on the floor of the gym on Thursday, March 4, 2021 in Walton. The 38 students will compete on Saturday at Greenfield-Central.

* Jonah Hinebaugh — Pharos-Tribune

cass indoor winds 0004.jpg

Gracie Collins, 18, center, plays the clarinet during an Indoor Winds band rehearsal on Thursday, March 4, 2021 in Walton.

* Photos by Jonah Hinebaugh — Pharos-Tribune

cass indoor winds 0005.jpg

Tyler Long, assistant band director for Lewis Cass Jr./Sr. High School and head of the Indoor Winds band, directs a rehearsal on Thursday, March 4, 2021 in Walton.

* Jonah Hinebaugh — Pharos-Tribune

(gallery only) cass indoor winds 0006.JPG

Members of the Lewis Cass indoor winds band warm-up before a rehearsal on Thursday, March 4, 2021 in Walton.

* Jonah Hinebaugh — Pharos-Tribune

(gallery only) cass indoor winds 0007.JPG

Percussionists warm-up before an indoor winds band rehearsal on Thursday, March 4, 2021 in Walton.

* Jonah Hinebaugh — Pharos-Tribune

(gallery only) cass indoor winds 0008.JPG

Members of the Lewis Cass indoor winds band's color guard pose before a run through of their piece on Thursday, March 4, 2021 in Walton.

* Jonah Hinebaugh — Pharos-Tribune

(gallery only) cass indoor winds 0009.JPG

Gracie Collins, left, and another Lewis Cass student perform the beginning of the indoor winds band's "Night at the Museum" piece on Thursday, March 4, 2021 in Walton.

* Jonah Hinebaugh — Pharos-Tribune

(gallery only) cass indoor winds 0010.JPG

Mellophone players perform choreography during an indoor winds band rehearsal on Thursday, March 4, 2021 in Walton.

* Jonah Hinebaugh — Pharos-Tribune

(gallery only) cass indoor winds 0011.JPG

Lewis Cass students rehearse their 'Night at the Museum" piece in preparation for a Saturday competition on Thursday, March 4, 2021 in Walton.

* Jonah Hinebaugh — Pharos-Tribune

(gallery only) cass indoor winds 0012.JPG

A member of the indoor winds band color guard performs during a rehearsal on Thursday, March 4, 2021 in Walton.

* Jonah Hinebaugh — Pharos-Tribune

(gallery only) cass indoor winds 0013.JPG

Lewis Cass indoor winds band students pose during rehearsal on Thursday, March 4, 2021 in Walton.

* Jonah Hinebaugh — Pharos-Tribune

(gallery only) cass indoor winds 0014.JPG

A saxophone player for Lewis Cass' indoor winds band performs during a rehearsal on Thursday, March 4, 2021 in Walton.

* Jonah Hinebaugh — Pharos-Tribune

(gallery only) cass indoor winds 0015.JPG

Members of the Lewis Cass indoor winds band rehearse on Thursday, March 4, 2021 in Walton.

* Jonah Hinebaugh — Pharos-Tribune

(gallery only) cass indoor winds 0017.JPG

Hailee Boehme, left, and other members of the color guard perform a part of their choreography during a rehearsal on Thursday, March 4, 2021 in Walton.

* Jonah Hinebaugh — Pharos-Tribune

(gallery only) cass indoor winds 0016.JPG

Hailee Boehme, in green, and the rest of the indoor winds band rehearse on Thursday, March 4, 2021 in Walton.

* Jonah Hinebaugh — Pharos-Tribune

(gallery only) cass indoor winds 0018.JPG

Members of the Lewis Cass indoor winds band watch the color guard rehearse on Thursday, March 4, 2021 in Walton.

* Jonah Hinebaugh — Pharos-Tribune

(gallery only) cass indoor winds 0020.JPG

Hailee Boehme, left, trots across stage with other member of the indoor winds band behind her during a rehearsal on Thursday, March 4, 2021 in Walton.

* Jonah Hinebaugh — Pharos-Tribune

(gallery only) cass indoor winds 0019.JPG

Members of the Lewis Cass indoor winds band watch the color guard rehearse on Thursday, March 4, 2021 in Walton.

* Jonah Hinebaugh — Pharos-Tribune

"Now, they're wanting to try something different," said Long, whose approximate 80 band students may opt to participate in the indoor marching program.

It was a decision Devin Rector, 18, made as a sophomore after becoming fascinated with the shows he saw bigger schools putting on. A mellophone player, he said the music is more demanding than "regular marching band" and musicians strive for "perfect intonation."

"You have to learn to balance your tone more because when we're indoors, you hear each other better," said Gracie Collins, 18, who plays clarinet.

cass indoor winds 0002.jpg

Devin Rector, 18, center, rehearses with other members of Lewis Cass' Indoor Winds band on Thursday, March 4, 2021 in Walton. The group is performing a piece titled "Night at the Museum" which features excerpts from "Pictures at an Exhibition."

Jonah Hinebaugh — Pharos-Tribune

The band performs a choreographed show just like they would on a field for the Indiana State School Music Association's marching band program. However, with Indoor Winds, the movements are set to a smaller scale, specifically a high school gymnasium.