If you are looking forward to seeing River Hill’s Marching Band at sporting events, do not be too disappointed when they are not present.  Instead of a Marching Band, River Hill now features a pep band called IMPACT!.  IMPACT! will fill the void left behind by the absence of the Marching Band.    
     Why has the Marching Band ceased to exist?  In a letter sent out to all band students and their parents, instrumental music director Joseph Fischer detailed the reasons for Marching Band’s sudden departure.  The numerous reasons include a lack of funding for the necessary costs and a decline in student involvement.  To fund the marching band in previous years, the Music Boosters provided $30,000 to $40,000 per season.  In addition to the money from Music Boosters, each student paid $1,200 in order to participate in Marching Band.  As stated in the letter, “This is simply too much to ask families to contribute and too great a strain on the music boosters.”  
     Even if the Music Boosters could supply money and each student could afford the fees, there are still not enough students willing to participate.  The band program has well over 100 members; however, only 25% of the band students chose to join the Marching Band.  It was projected that only 30 students were going to sign up to be a part of the Marching Band.  This group of 30 students was clearly not enough to maintain a successful group.  
     The marching band will be missed, but IMPACT! is eager to step in as its replacement.  IMPACT! is comprised of members of Percussion Ensemble, Symphonic Band, and Wind Ensemble. The band program hopes that allowing all members of those sections of the band program to participate in IMPACT! will encourage students to show more interest in actively participating in band.  As stated by Joan Orcutt, a Music Booster parent, the hope of the addition of IMPACT! is that “more students will enjoy this new approach and want to stay involved in the program.”   
     Similar to Marching Band, IMPACT! performs at football games, the Homecoming parade, and the Homecoming pep rally.  Unlike the Marching Band, however, IMPACT! does not concentrate on marching.  IMPACT! is more focused on playing quality music than marching techniques.  This is why IMPACT! has not been seen on the football field performing a half-time show.  No matter how big or small, IMPACT! is still respected and appreciated for their dedication to the musical program at River Hill.
     Out of the unexpected situation of losing the Marching Band came a positive addition to the music program.  IMPACT! will continue to show its enthusiasm and support for River Hill through providing musical entertainment at public events.  So do not miss Marching Band too much, because IMPACT! is going above and beyond in order to provide the same amazing music that Marching Band did.