GREENFIELD — For Greenfield-Central color guard member Aubrey Brewer, Community Night is about as great as a public performance can get.
The 18-year-old senior was among the nearly 150 students performing in the Winter Group Community Night performance Friday night at the high school gym.
Parents packed the bleachers to watch five different pageantry groups perform, including Winter Percussion, Winter Winds, and three Winter Guards, the latter of which were divided into groups for 4-5 graders, 6-8 graders, and the top tier of 8-12 graders.
The groups took turns performing various routines that they’ve prepared for competitions throughout the winter season. The high school winter guard was even headed to competitions the following day.
For Brewer, there’s nothing quite as satisfying as performing in front of her own school’s gym on community night for family and friends.
“For me it’s the most fun part of the whole season, when all my family and friends come to see what we’ve been working on,” said Aubrey as she braided a younger guard member’s hair before they took center stage Friday night.
“I love being out there on the floor with my friends. You can really feel the love and care and passion out there, especially on community night,” Aubrey said.
Dressed in an array of colorful costumes, each of the school system’s five winter groups took a turn performing their routines on the gym floor, to the delight of the spectators in the stands.
The high school’s performing arts secretary, Jennifer Steele, said it was a great night to celebrate all the hard work the student performers have put in throughout the season.
For some like senior Ella Neill that includes practicing three hours a day, five days a week, in addition to Saturday shows and competitions.
The 18-year-old senior — who plays vibraphone and alto saxophone — spends three hours rehearsing with Winter Percussion on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and three hours rehearsing with Winter Winds on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Ella was thrilled to have her dad and grandparents in the stands Friday night to see how her hard work had paid off.
“I really like performing. It’s definitely what makes all the practicing worthwhile,” she said.
Greenfield-Central’s band director, Chris Wing, thanked the fans in the stands for coming out to support the students at Community Night, and all season long.
The season is now complete for the younger guard groups, both of which received gold ratings at the division finals at Decatur Central High School March 9.
The high school winter guard competed at the state finals March 16 — finishing sixth in open class — and will compete at the Winter Guard International (WGI) World Championships in Dayton, Ohio April 11-13.
Greenfield-Central’s Indoor Percussion Ensemble members will compete at their state finals April 6 at Indiana State University, and will finish their season at the WGI World Championships April 18-20 in Dayton.
The Winter Winds group will compete at state finals March 23, and complete the season at the WGI World Championships in Dayton April 20-21.
To track their progress, follow GC Bands on Facebook.
