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Davis Journal

100 years of tradition for Davis High marching band

Nov 29, 2021 01:04PM ● By Becky Ginos

Band Director Michael Crookston talks to the band before a performance. Courtesy photos

KAYSVILLE—Davis High has had a long tradition of strong marching bands and this year was no different. The band placed in both state and the national Bands of America (BOA) competitions Nov. 5-6 in St. George. Davis took third at state and fifth overall in BOA.

“Shows are well thought out and designed,” said Band Director Michael Crookston. “It takes about a year for the music writers and for ordering backdrops, etc. We have band camp to work on all of our drills. It's a really slow boulder that gets going. It’s amazing.”

The band practices six to eight hours a week leading up to competitions, traveling to several different schools throughout the fall. “Then we hit that (state) in November and it’s all over,” said Crookston. “It’s cool. It encompasses a lot of lives. There’s a lot of happy tears at the end. It clearly means a lot to the kids.”

Crookston has been at Davis High for five years and has his own history with the marching band. “I was in the band in 2004,” he said. “I met my wife in band. She was a drum major and I was in the drumline.”

The activity of putting a show together has grown exponentially in the last 10 years, said Crookston. “They’re far better than when I was in it.”

The coordinator, drill writer and music writer all work together designing it and communicating with each other, he said. “We have to think about what will work well for the community.”

The community has embraced the band, Crookston said. “We have multi generational families. It’s fun. It helps with recruiting. People want to be a part of it. A little bit of that plays into students joining the band.”

The band dates back to the 1920s, he said. “There are pictures of the band going down the street. We’re marching in the exact same spot. There’s 100 years of tradition there.”


Crookston said they marched 145 students total. “Our highest ever was 300 but that’s too many. We’re a healthy size. I want to keep it that way hopefully.”