By Amanda Keblar

The 2011-2012 Marching Band has been working on their new show, Dvorak’s The New World Symphony No. 9. It’s a classical piece written by Antonin Dvorak in 1893, but has been rewritten specially for the Gator band by Dave Young, who is a band director at Southeast High School. The percussion part was rewritten by our own drum-line instructor Gary Shuda.

There have been some small changes in the way band director Rob Salistean is doing things this year. He said he is really trying to focus on the basics, “We can’t do advance things if we can’t do basic things,” said Salistean.

Salistean said there is a lot more cohesiveness in the band, with seniors taking more initiative to bring everyone closer.

Lauren Cobb (12) was a drum major last year and has a few things she has changed to and is more focused on. “I’m able to help people, more like the freshman,” said Cobb. She feels with a year of experience under her belt, she is more prepared. She also wants to focus on keeping the band whole.

In years past, the whole band had its different sections. Cobb said she really wants to make the band like one section.

The band performed their show for fans during halftime of the football game last Friday.