The Trojan Guard will be traveling to Clarinda on Saturday, Oct. 5 to perform at the Clarinda Band Jamboree. This annual event hosts schools from across southwest Iowa to perform in a parade. The bands are judged on their performance and receive a score that afternoon. Senior Zachary McKay, a percussion player, said, “I enjoy getting to spend the day with my friends and getting to hang out on the bus.” Junior Anna Wieser said that the kettle corn is the best part of competing in Clarinda.

Each year, band director Jared O’Donnell chooses a marching song that the Trojan Guard will perform at multiple parades including the Clarinda Band Jamboree and the Homecoming parade. This year, the band will be performing the song “Feel it Still” by Portugal. The Man. O’Donnell said that in order to prepare for their upcoming performances, the band has been practicing and getting outside as much as they can.

This year the Trojan Guard has grown in size, making it the largest band that O’Donnell has directed in Atlantic. He said that creating parade lines for a band this size has been fun, yet challenging.