Since July, the Troy High School marching band has been chasing perfection. 

Sunday, the Trojans captured it.

Troy, competing at the Ohio Music Education Association state competition at Piqua’s Alexander Stadium, not only scored a rating of 1 - Superior for the competition, but also earned Superior ratings in each of the judging categories: Music, General Effect, Visual Effect, Percussion and Auxiliary, essentially a perfect score for the night. 

“It’s something we’ve done before, but it’s been awhile since we’ve done it,” said Troy High School Director of Bands Molly Venneman. “I couldn’t tell you the last time we did it. It’s definitely something that doesn’t happen very often. You are always working toward that goal and hoping you can get there, but to actually do it is pretty exciting, especially when you do it at the state competition.”

For the band, it is a journey that began in July, first with a pre-camp at Troy High School, then a steamy band camp at Wittenberg University that saw the band members regularly putting in 15-hour days. It continued through the fall, as the band practiced, performed at football games on Friday nights and competed in four different competitions on Saturdays to earn a qualifying mark for state. Troy earned Superior ratings in its final three competitions, first punching its ticket to state with a Superior at the Tippecanoe Band Invitational. 

Troy’s show this year was entitled “Inside.”

“These kids work incredibly hard, which is what makes this so rewarding,” Venneman said. “A lot of people may only see what happens on Friday nights at football games or Saturdays in the fall if they come to our competition. These kids start working in the summer, including a week of 12-15 hour days at band camp, to put together the show everyone gets to see. They work all through the summer and then after school once it begins. To be able to earn a Superior rating shows these kids all the hard work they put in was worth it.”

Troy has earned a Superior rating at state every year since 2000. Troy also is one of only three bands in the state to qualify for state every year since the competition's inception in the 1980s. 

“Every year, you have different kids, different music and a different show, so I don’t think earning a Superior rating at state ever gets old, and I don’t think it’s something you can ever take for granted,” Venneman said. “Every year when we begin working with the kids in July, we know how difficult it is going to be. These kids work so hard to get to this point and we are extremely proud of their dedication.”

In addition to Venneman, the band is led by Casey Layer (associate director), Megan Fulk (assistant director), Kyle Miller (percussion instructor), Matthew Brush (percussion instructor) Emily Doles (color guard instructor), Sheri Baker (color guard instructor), Victoria Solomon (winds instructor) and Brooke Stockslager (winds instructor).

The show’s featured soloists were Addie Lunsford (guard), Lukas Hotchkiss (trombone) and Olivia McElwee (trumpet). This year's drum majors are Addisyn Russell and Iz Olivieri

“I think one of the things that makes marching band unique is there are so many different elements to it,” Venneman said. “You have 100 kids and all of these different instruments and musical styles, in addition to our color guard members. You have to get all of these different pieces to fit together into one cohesive, entertaining show. To do that, it truly takes and entire staff of dedicated individuals, which I am very fortunate to work with. They are truly here for the students. The kids have bought into this program, and what we are trying to teach and what we are trying to accomplish.”

Venneman said the Troy marching band is also fortunate to have commitment not only from students, but their families as well. 

“Our band families know going in that it isn’t going to be easy,” she said. “I’m sure they don’t always see their kids as much as they would like to in the fall. It takes commitment not only from our students, but their families as well. Plus, we have an amazing team of volunteers who put in countless hours supporting our students and our band. A big part of the reason we’ve been so successful over the years is because we live in such a supportive community.”