The lights drop, the crowd gasps, and the drumline hits the tunnel—suddenly halftime isn’t a break anymore. We invited band director Chris Janowiak and three juniors to share how West Ottawa’s Ignite show turned Friday nights into a must-see, must-hear spectacle without losing the musical heart that drives a great band.
We talk through the why and the how: the move from traditional competition sets to a performance-driven format built for community connection. Chris brings Nashville-seasoned insight and a creative partnership with arranger Benjamin Easley to blend wind writing, backing tracks, stadium lighting, and smoke effects into a tight seven-minute arc. The students open up about learning choreography with ribbons, setting smoke on the podiums, and locking tempo to a track that never budges—a shift that raised accountability and sharpened their skills.
Inside rehearsal, fundamentals took center stage, from balloon breathing for stronger air support to focused ensemble work that’s already lifting tone, blend, and balance ahead of concert season.
The payoff is visible and loud. Fans stop mid-aisle. Visiting administrators ask, “What was that?” Respect rises as the show’s accessibility draws in “Nacho Joe” and new listeners who pull out their phones to capture the action and sounds. Favorite highlights—like a Johnny Cash Ring of Fire sprint, the color guard’s high-energy visuals, and the addictive echo of the drumline in the tunnel—keep the flow going until the game returns. Along the way, we dig into leadership, buy-in, and legacy: why this cohort will be remembered for trusting fast, adapting hard, and setting a new bar for what a high school band can be.
This episode was recorded on October 2, 2025.
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By Rodney Vellinga & Bill Kennedy
5
1212 ratings
The lights drop, the crowd gasps, and the drumline hits the tunnel—suddenly halftime isn’t a break anymore. We invited band director Chris Janowiak and three juniors to share how West Ottawa’s Ignite show turned Friday nights into a must-see, must-hear spectacle without losing the musical heart that drives a great band.
We talk through the why and the how: the move from traditional competition sets to a performance-driven format built for community connection. Chris brings Nashville-seasoned insight and a creative partnership with arranger Benjamin Easley to blend wind writing, backing tracks, stadium lighting, and smoke effects into a tight seven-minute arc. The students open up about learning choreography with ribbons, setting smoke on the podiums, and locking tempo to a track that never budges—a shift that raised accountability and sharpened their skills.
Inside rehearsal, fundamentals took center stage, from balloon breathing for stronger air support to focused ensemble work that’s already lifting tone, blend, and balance ahead of concert season.
The payoff is visible and loud. Fans stop mid-aisle. Visiting administrators ask, “What was that?” Respect rises as the show’s accessibility draws in “Nacho Joe” and new listeners who pull out their phones to capture the action and sounds. Favorite highlights—like a Johnny Cash Ring of Fire sprint, the color guard’s high-energy visuals, and the addictive echo of the drumline in the tunnel—keep the flow going until the game returns. Along the way, we dig into leadership, buy-in, and legacy: why this cohort will be remembered for trusting fast, adapting hard, and setting a new bar for what a high school band can be.
This episode was recorded on October 2, 2025.
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