Grand Rapids marching band wraps up another successful season

The Grand Rapids marching band brought home more hardware this year, after a good competitive season.

Their performance of “The Hat of the Matter” is about 8 minutes long, and very impressive. 130 members span across the field, playing music, dancing, or other theatrical moves.

On Saturday, at U.S. Bank Stadium, they went head to head with the best of the best bands in Minnesota. It was the Youth in Music Championships.

They finished 4th for class AAA and are the Minnesota State Class AAA Championship Runners Up for the second year in a row. Plus, they earned 5th best band in the state overall.

One of the band directors, Dale Gunderson, shared more on Wednesday via Zoom. “We talk a lot about growth mindset and believing in the process and the culture. We can’t control a subjective art form like this, as far as first or last. We focus on each performance being better than the last,” Gunderson said.

They are proud of the students and how far they’ve come.

Gunderson estimated next year will be their 40th for the competition side of things.

They’re already starting to scheme for next season, and recruit the next band members.