This year the Derby Panther Marching Band’s show is called DisAppear. Throughout the show a visual soloist captures the audience’s attention.

As luck would have it, I’m the visual soloist. I get to dance, march, spin flag, play, and most importantly, disappear. The goal is to keep the audience on the edge of their seats as I lead them through the story of the disappearing band member.

I start out interacting with my stage and make my way to the guard member where two of them lift me up. All the dance and arm movements lead up to the climax of the show where I finally disappear on the stage.

Later reappearing, I interact with guard member senior Ashlee Henwood. Acting confused as to what is going on, I get handed a swing flag and spin through the ballet of the show.

The show finally picks back up. I grab my flute and the band picks me up and I continue to march the show, switching with band member senior Jordan Carter, who appears to play the solo at the end.

As the show ends, the whole band disappears under a black sheet. A guard member runs with a flag stating “poof.”

This past weekend we performed at the Central States Marching Festival. We received a 1 rating for superior and got a standing ovation.