Washington Junior High School students selected to participate in Drum Corps International’s INPack honor band

Featuring middle school band students from throughout the state of Indiana, Drum Corps International’s INpact honor band is currently on track to be the biggest in the ensemble’s more than decade-long history.

Congratulations to Washington Junior High School’s Danica Dowling, Kaitlyn Graber, Reese Grubbs, Ace May, Sarah Arthur, and Natalie Rivera for being selected, with Olan Fenters, Noah Stafford, Cutter Tyler, Dylan Ross, and Oakley Windward as alternates.

2023’s INpact ensemble is set to feature 650 students representing 78 schools. They were chosen from a pool of more than 1,200 students nominated by middle school band directors from across the Hoosier State this winter.

In 2023, Phantom Regiment will come on board as one of the newest partners of BANDtastic!, as the Rockford, Illinois-based drum corps organizes a one-day educational experience and performance for local band students coinciding with the “Show of Shows” DCI Tour event on Saturday, July 15.

As we continue to strengthen our community roots within our hometown, the BANDtastic program is a great way for us to reach out to and work with band directors and students throughout Illinois,” said Todd Snead, Phantom Regiment director of programs.

Snead says that his organization is currently accepting student nominations from band directors for the Rockford event through April 30, after which participants will be selected in early May before coming together this July for the event.

First performing as part of the DCI World Championships in 2012, the INpact Indiana’s Future Band is assembled each August by way of a state-wide nomination process, through which select middle school students are chosen to take part in the ensemble. Hosted as part of the DCI World Championships in downtown Indianapolis, the selected INpact students are given the opportunity to rehearse, perform, and take part in educational programming that’s designed to underscore the benefits of lifelong music making.

For comparison, 2022’s ensemble featured a little under 500 students from 50 different Indiana schools. Just over 200 students participated in the group during its inaugural year in 2012.