During a typical band season, Fatima marches in three events, with the Washington Marching Festival and the Mizzou Homecoming Parade consistently on the schedule. This year, the Comets attended the Southern Boone County Marching Classic on Saturday.

“We have been trying a few different festivals in recent years,” said Band Director Ryan Lewis, who is in his fourth year at Fatima.

After earning third in Class 2 competition at Washington, the Comets won the White Division (based on band size) of the MU parade on Oct. 9 before claiming third place among Class 3 schools at Southern Boone last weekend.

While Fatima has won outstanding drumline at Mizzou, Lewis cannot recall another first-place trophy.

Fatima will march in two Christmas parades this year, one at Jefferson City, the other in Linn.

During the summer, two camps are held in preparation for the competitive season.

The first, which usually occurs in mid-to-late July, is the drumline and color guard camp. “It is here that the color guard begins learning their complex routines and the drumline begins laying down the foundation for their music,” said Lewis. “They have a lot more music to learn than just our marching pieces (warm-up sequences, cadences, etc.), so they require some extra rehearsal time.”

Lewis is pleased with the way his students have responded to his approach. “I get my students involved mostly by placing the responsibility on them,” he said. “I try really hard to maintain a culture of ‘this is our band collectively,’ and I let my students have a voice in the things we do as an ensemble, within reason. I also try to cultivate a team-like environment in my classroom, one where we are all pulling on the same proverbial rope together.”

Lewis began his musical career in the sixth grade at School of the Osage. “Although we always had a large band, my teachers, Jeff Kile and Ryan Lewis (a different one), took a special interest in me,” he said. “I was not the most naturally talented musician but I always worked hard and pursued as many avenues of performance as I could (jazz band, all-district band, district/state level solos/ensembles, etc.). It was through my teachers and my work with my small ensembles that I discovered my passion for education. I chose to pursue education in the discipline I best knew: music.”

After weighing options for an extended period of time, Lewis chose to attend Central Methodist University. “While there, I continued to perform as much as I could,” said Lewis. 

In addition to being selected as a featured soloist multiple times with the concert band, Lewis was also selected to perform at the Missouri Music Educators Association All-Collegiate Band in 2016. He graduated from CMU with a Bachelor of Music Education in 2017 and began his teaching career at Higbee R-VIII the following school year.

“I gained invaluable experience as the only music teacher for the entire district (K-12),” said Lewis. “I enjoyed my time there immensely, but reached the decision to part ways in order to pursue a competitive 6-12 band program.”

As luck would have it, the 6-12 band/choir position at Fatima became open that very same spring. “It has been a great four years thus far,” said Lewis.

In the Fatima Comets Pride Marching Band, there are currently 46 students, some of whom are eighth-graders.

Drum Majors: Sophie Bock, Collin Bridges 

Color Guard: Jessica Steinman (section leader), Shilo Kopp, Iris Starke, Katrina Toebben 

Flutes: Taylor Schwartze (section leader), Megan Gabelsberger, Mathew Kliethermes, Carissa Mushi,  

Clarinets: Megan Kliethermes (section leader), Nadine Schmitz

Bass Clarinet: Lily Gregory

Alto Saxophones: Emma Gregory (section leader), Ava Buhr, Peyten Helton, Layne Samson, Skyla Schroeder, Mitchel Winkelman

Baritone Saxophone: Jacob Buhr

Trumpets: Cheyenne Hicks (section leader), Jeana Abbott, Nich Eynard, Miranda Gabelsberger, Wyatt Gabelsberger, Austin Kliethermes

Trombones: Parker Bauer, Brayden Bexten, Wyatt Ricks (section leader), Kyla Saunders, Phillip Welschmeyer

Baritones: Jeremy Bursnall, Waylon Hoeller

Tubas: Gavin Poston, Alice Rhea 

Drumline: Scott Sankey (section leader), Chloe Baumhoer, Claire Baumhoer, Carly Nilges, Gabe Nilges, Porter Schaben, Owen Scheulen, Henry Schroeder, Jesse Schroeder

Banner Carriers: Jentry Allen, Trace Walters