For only the third time in his 26 years at South Tama, Mike Carnahan and the high school concert band brought home a Division One rating. Being one of the top honors a band can achieve, the last two came in 2012 and 2022, under the direction of Mike Carnahan and before that 1997.

Earning the rating comes after performing two prepared pieces in front of three judges, who all assign scores to different categories based on what they hear.

Concert band is judged on eight categories: Tone Quality, Intonation, Rhythm, Balance and Blend, Technique, Interpretation and Musicianship, Articulation, and Other Performance Factors. They can be awarded up to 5 points in each category, so a perfect ballot would be worth 40 points. As the judges hear wrong notes or rhythms, or as they hear good quality sounds and expression, they make comments and at the conclusion of the performance award points in each category. “The real challenge is trying to break into that Division One range, because you can only miss 4 points to be considered for a One,” said Carnahan. The range of scores for a One falls between 40-36 points. A Two is 35-30, a Three 29-22, a Four 21-12, and a Five is 11-8.

What makes this year special is the fact that after performing songs: “Ancient Flower” by Yukiko Nishimura and “Celebration” by Randall Standridge, all three judges awarded the band a Division One rating, putting the group in the very top percentages of high school bands.

“What I’ll say is that we’re really, really proud of the score and the overall rating. Hopefully we can use this as a momentum springboard towards marching band. This was no small feat,” Carnahan said.

Moving towards the marching band season, Carnahan had some ideas in mind for show themes. After seeing a spy themed show during the previous season, it fell into his lap. Scouring the corner of the internet only the most skilled band directors know how to navigate, Carnahan had found what he was looking for.

“This particular show is called Secret Agent, it’s not specifically James Bond but the James Bond Theme is in there along with Skyfall and the Mission Impossible theme. Some original work from the composer and arranger are in the show as well,” he added.

In the way only a master of dad jokes and subliminal messaging like one Mike Carnahan can do, he added a few hints at the show he had picked out.

“When the kids asked about the show I just said I keep it top secret, a few of them picked up on it but I made sure to deny it,” he said.

Eventually announcing the show through a video during rehearsal, which is available for everyone to watch on Facebook, the band went quiet before booming with enthusiasm for the show they will spend so many hours perfecting and performing.

Leading the band this year will be Drum Majors Josiah Houghton and Jordan DeFoe, who were both picked after an audition process. Seven color guard members were also selected after auditions being led by co-captains Madison Engler and Cheyene Casali.

With instrument spots still being sorted out, the band is eager to finalize numbers and get to work this summer on their secret mission towards another Division One rating!