The Richmond Hill High School Wildcat Marching Band is off to a great start for their fall 2012 season, having just completed their annual two-week-long band camp. The marching show “Gladiators,” by Countermotion Inc., has been chosen as the Wildcats competition marching show this year.  
This year’s marching band and color guard are 134 in number, the largest group the high school has ever had in the program. Students, freshman to senior, worked endlessly — despite record-breaking temperatures — to learn new music and drill, laying the ground work for their opening piece of the program.  
The Wildcat Marching Band is led by Dr. Daniel Kiene.  He is director of all the bands at RHHS, and this is his sixth year at Richmond Hill. Kiene has been teaching music and directing bands for 21 years overall and was the 2010-2011 RHHS Teacher of the Year and 2011-2012 Bryan County Teacher of the Year.  
In addition to the band, and practicing right along with them, is the color guard, led by Marlon Smith. Smith is a long-time veteran of Richmond Hill High School, now in his ninth year directing the color guard.  
To round out the marching program, assisting Kiene is Sean Sullivan, the marching ensemble assistant, and Mike Thomas, drill designer.  
Leadership roles are also held by the band members. This year’s student leadership places Mallory McGee and Ruben Rios as drum majors; Matthew Quinn, brass captain; Emma Morris, woodwind captain; Darryl Dunham, percussion captain; Sawyer Duckworth, trumpet section leader; Sydney Schooler, French horn section leader; Philip Martinez, low brass section leader; Mary VanDerHeyden, flute section leader; Zaak Hinz, clarinet section leader; Ashley Harkness, saxophone section leader; Charlie Beveridge, low winds section leader; Jacob Smith, drumline section leader; Kaila Green, front ensemble section leader; Nathan Martinez, equipment captain; Stephanie Dareing, librarian; and Marcie Demond, secretary.  
These student leaders were chosen for their dedication and participation in the program over the years and help to guide their sections in both musicianship and marching technique. The older students help and teach the new and younger members of the band.   
The Wildcats will begin performing their marching show at Friday night football games when the season starts and during their competition season, which begins in October. The first scrimmage football game at RHHS is Aug. 17 and the first home game is Aug. 31. Come out and support the Wildcats this year as they become “Gladiators” for their fall 2012 season.