The Forest Hills Marching Band and Color Guard will compete at the National Championships at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on Thursday, Nov. 12. The group, which combines students from Anderson and Turpin high schools, is coming off an undefeated 2025-2026 competition season and a state championship.

During that season, the band went undefeated at every competition and earned a Superior Rating from each of the seven judges at the Ohio Music Education Association (OMEA) State Marching Band Finals in Columbus, according to the Forest Hills School District. A Superior Rating is the highest possible score, a 1 on a scale where 1 is the best and 5 the lowest. The perfect marks across all seven judges earned the group the state champion title.

The band is led by directors Joe Wesche, Matt Gaal, Steven Funke and Zack Strong. Color guard coaches include Cassady Wolke, Madison Bintz and Amanda Wesche. John Thacker, Seth Campbell and Alissa Carlson coach the drumline.

For Vivian Lin, a junior clarinetist, the program is about more than trophies. Lin told the Raptor Report, a student publication, that her favorite part of marching band is "meeting friends and hanging out … especially because we connect Anderson and Turpin."

The program's structure reinforces that cross-school bond. Students from both high schools rehearse together for hours to synchronize their movements and music, according to the Raptor Report. Color guard members must time their tosses precisely, while instrumentalists march in tight formation.

This fall, the band performed a superhero-themed halftime show at the Anderson High School Homecoming football game, featuring music from The Incredibles, Batman films and other soundtracks, according to the Raptor Report. The crowd responded with loud applause.

Isaac Jones, a junior mellophone player, said the choreography "adds [a] good visual representation [of the music]."

The National Championships on Nov. 12 mark the next test for the program after its undefeated 2025-2026 season. Residents can find schedule details and event information at fhbands.org.

The next Band Booster meeting is Tuesday, Nov. 3, at 6:30 p.m. in the Turpin High School band room.