The Hempfield High School marching unit is giving new meaning to the term "big band."

The marching band's ensemble has 115 members, the most in at least a decade.

"I think the reason we have a lot of students is because we are generating a lot of interest in fourth grade when kids are starting instruments," director Matt Ceresini said. "Our two elementary directors, (Ms. Rebecca) Pershouse and Mr. (Daniel) Stauffer, are both our elementary teachers for band, and they also are both assistant directors of the marching band. So we have a really great connection with getting kids started and keeping them excited until it's time to join marching band. I think that's been a huge part of it. I would say the other reason is because I think it's a fun experience, and so we're able to retain students from year to year because they're interested in doing it again. The attrition rate is very low, and we're getting a lot of new kids in, so we've been growing over the past decade."

Hempfield's marching band tuned up for its fall schedule during band camp in early August.

"We're exploring different dimensions, and building up from little dots and coming together," said senior Katie Keele, a drum major and band president.

Senior Adam Binder, a drum major and lead conductor, said the band's show, called "The Architect," will feature a wide variety of songs.

The performance will begin with "Harmonielehre" by John Adams. "It's a grand classical piece with big full ensemble stabs, and that's our opening statement," Adam said. The second movement is "Dappled Light," which is a studio soprano saxophone piece, and will be performed by oboe soloist Amalia Gelbert. Next will be "Inventions" by Johann Sebastian Bach, which serves as a transition into the pop song "Just the Two of Us." A percussion-heavy movement, "The Grid," will precede the closing number, "Psychopomp."

Ceresini considers the strengths of the band while choosing songs for the performance, but that's not the sole factor. "It does (affect the choices) somewhat, specifically with the oboe solo, because we knew we had a really strong oboe soloist," he said. "But generally, what we're trying to do when we're picking the show is thinking about how we can highlight each section of the band because we want every section to be strong. We'll think about what the percussion feature is going to be, what the color guard feature's going to be, what the woodwind feature is going to be, what the brass feature is going to be. I think more we're trying to think about what we can do to tell a cool story or show something neat visually rather than specifically tailor it exactly to individual students."

The Hempfield marching band will play at each Black Knights home and away football game and take part in competitions under the USBands and Bands of America banners.

Opening Night will be held at Hempfield on Saturday, Sept. 12, followed by shows at West Shore on Saturday, Sept. 26; Unionville on Saturday, Oct. 10; West Shore on Saturday, Oct. 24; and the USBands State Championship in Downingtown on Halloween.

"It's an amazing part of the season, and it helps because what comes with competition is feedback from judges," Adam said. "It gives us a different perspective to look at the show with a competitive aspect rather than just at a halftime show. I often find it brings about a new kick for all the students and improving what we're doing, and it gives us a lot more to refine once we get feedback from judges."

While some high school band bands have opted to play at noncompetitive festivals, Hempfield prefers to perform in front of judges. "I think a big part of competitive band is tradition and what the expectation of the school community is," said Ceresini. "Hempfield has been competing for decades and decades. I think there's a lot of educational value in competition because knowing when you're being evaluated is one of the strongest motivators humans have, especially high school kids. We really try to look at it from that end. It's not so much about winning and losing, but how do we use the motivation we get from being evaluated to propel ourselves and also unite us as a team, because definitely going through a season where you know you're being evaluated helps the students feel bonded together. By the end of the season, we're always a closer family than when the season started."