The halls roar with laughter and yelling that signal the subtle signs of the Pride’s return to the field. Stretching in the cafeteria, the potential candidates for The Pride of The East’s leadership team march and rehearse to win over the directors with their technique the last week of April.

“My favorite part of leadership auditions is being able to see who in our band is willing to stand up and take responsibility in the role of a leadership position. It gives me a chance to know who really cares about the program and who I know I can go to for questions or advice when it comes to marching,” junior Jordan Johnson.

The clinic extends from Monday through Wednesday with the audition following the last day of the clinic. The students rehearse forward to back marching, backward to forward marching, and diamond drills.

“I love being able to see all of the people who are eager to do what they can to make us a better band,” junior Greta Williams said. “I also love the kind of re-entry into marching season since it’s been several months since our last game. Because of this process, I am able to see who the ‘go to’ people are if I ever need them,”

The enthusiasm of the students and the directors resonates through the speakers on the command of “Set.”

“The most interesting part of the clinic was probably the end of the second day when Mr. Lambert, after the rehearsal, told us to climb on one of the large dirt piles over in the construction. We all ran and climbed the tower of woodchips on command, it was so funny,” sophomore Michael Wiseman said.

The new leadership will lead a new generation of the pride and are set to begin teaching the incoming freshman during the second week of May at the freshman marching clinic.