TARPON SPRINGS, Fla. — The Tarpon Springs High School Outdoor Performance Ensemble got in its final full practice Monday night before heading to Indianapolis to compete in the Bands of America Grand National Championships. 

"I'm pumped, man. I mean, we came here to get better, and that's exactly what we're gonna do," said Head Drum Major Mathew Olaya, a senior.

"Just making sure that we're in the right mindset," said Color Guard Captain Vivian Lunsway, also in 12th grade, of her priorities for the last practice.

What You Need To Know

  • Tarpon Springs High School's outdoor performance ensemble is set to head to Indianapolis this week to compete in the Bands of America Grand National Championships

  • The band won regional championships in Orlando last month to qualify for nationals

  • Members faced an additional challenge this year after Hurricanes Helene and Milton disrupted practice 

  • The national competition is scheduled to take place Nov. 14 to 16

The band's 200 members gathered on the school football field to fine tune their show ahead of the competition, which is scheduled for Nov. 14 to 16. 

"I'm really excited," said Lunsway. "I know that we're anticipating a huge crowd if we make it to finals, but we're all just really excited about how much hard work we put in over the season."

Members spent hours upon hours practicing during the summer, after school, and on weekends.

"We have a saying where, 'we always begin with the end in mind,'" said Kevin Ford, one of the directors with the Tarpon Springs Leadership Conservatory for the Arts. "So, in our first rehearsal, we started off with 182 days before grand nationals, and now we're down to four."

Their show, "Awakening", has already taken home honors, winning regional championships in Orlando last month. 

"The coolest thing is just, if you see back there, just how the props interact with the light. The reason that was built is that each show that we produce, you'll see it differently," Olaya said about what makes the school's show stand out.

Members are familiar with the pressures of competition. In 2022, the group placed in the top five at nationals. Perfecting the show takes dedication every year, but this time around, students also had to deal with the disruptions caused by Hurricanes Helene and Milton.

"If you would've asked me three weeks ago whether or not we would be here or not, that was in question," Ford said.

Lost rehearsal time wasn't the only challenge.

"We have families that are actually in the rebuilding process, and it's very humbling when you see we're here on a Saturday rehearsing, and those families stop repairing their homes to come out to ensure that the students have the support that they need," said Ford.

"We really stepped up over the past few weeks to get back in the groove," said Lunsway.

Tarpon Springs High is one of three schools representing Florida in the competition, along with Newberry High School in Alachua County and Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Broward County.