Jon Chang is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Thunderbird High School for AZPreps365.com.

PHOENIX – Picture Friday Night Lights at Thunderbird. The air is buzzing. Excited chatter fills the bleachers as the stands are filled with fans of all ages. 

The cheerleaders and pom squads are setting up on the sideline, and a loud drum beats in the distance. Then the Orange Crush marching band makes its way to the field, dressed in bright orange and blue uniforms with instruments shining. 

On the side of the track a plethora of props and front ensemble equipment is ready to go – keyboard, marimba, xylophone, gong and more. 

The band is a vital but often overlooked part of the game day experience, something that is not missed until it isn’t there. 

What a fan may not expect is the cost to maintain and run a competitive high school marching band program every year. 

Orange Crush band booster president Allison Mintz has had two students of her own participate in the band program at Thunderbird. One was in the band when the program had over 100 members, and she currently has one of the 38 marching this season.  

“Typically for this size band, we’re looking at close to $10,000 per year,” Mintz said. “This year it’s been a little bit different. We had an expenditure of $20,000 in new equipment. We got all new drums.” 

The expenditure is broken down into a few distinct categories, namely maintenance of uniforms and instruments, covering transportation and registration for local competitions and purchasing props for the competition show. 

The field props for the band’s current competition show cost $870, according to the band director, Andrew Torbert. The props will feature a 15-by-15-foot TV screen, as well as large canvases built on steel frames. 

To help negate some of these costs, students must pay a $100 band fee to participate.

“I know some school band fees are anywhere from $600 to over $1000 per year,” Mintz said. “We’re trying to keep our costs very low for the students so that any student who wants to be in band can be in band.” 

The fees are primarily used at the start of the marching season during the summer band camp to buy uniform parts, meals and offer bonding activities. 

As a way to help students with the band fee cost, Torbert and the boosters also offer band scholarships to students. 

“Money isn’t what holds people back in the band,” color guard performer Grace Childers said. “They (the boosters) make sure that everybody has what they need.” 

Post-band camp, the boosters continue their work to provide more fundraising opportunities to cover any remaining costs, especially for props and transportation. 

One of these is the annual marching band car wash fundraiser, where students operate and run a car wash at Carmel Automotive. Mintz said this is often the largest source of income for the band. 

The boosters hold a variety of fundraisers that allow members to engage with their community. Along with the car wash, the boosters set up profit shares at local restaurants such as Barro’s, reach out for business sponsorships, help the band sell Christmas trees and host jazz performance nights. 

The students see their fundraising efforts paid back in front of them, with the boosters working with Torbert to ensure equipment is functional and there is instructional staff to help all students.

“We got a new synth this year, and new tech equipment,” Peter Letourgeon, the drum major, said. “It seems like it’s all being put back into the program.” 

The band is well-supported by their instructional staff, boosters and the school. The school administration recently helped fund new top-of-the-line drum heads and harnesses for the drumline.

“Our stuff is old,” Avery Beddome, a drumline member, said. “Those harnesses that are behind me are falling apart, breaking every day. Drums are also loose and faulty.” 

Beddome said the purchase was long overdue, and the new drums signal a “new era and a new age for the drumline.” 

The Orange Crush and its new equipment will be on full display as it enters its first AzMBA competition this season on Saturday, Oct. 10, at Canyon View High School.