More than 230 students in the award-winning Cardinal band and color guard kicked off their 2026-2027 season in mid August with their annual summer band camp at Middleton High School. The ensemble is preparing to perform in four competitions this season: Waukesha North BandFest on Sept. 20, Stoughton Marching Invitational on Oct. 4, Sauk Prairie Marching Invite on Oct. 11, and the Wisconsin School Music Association (WSMA) State Championships at University of Wisconsin-Whitewater on Oct. 17.
The Cardinal marching band and color guard earned second place in Class AAAA at the WSMA Marching Band State Championships in 2025. The Cardinals also earned three caption awards: best color guard, best percussion and best musical presentation. In 2024, the Cardinals won the state title.
In addition to marching competitions, the band and color guard will perform at three home football games at Borden Athletic Complex on Sept. 10, Sept. 25, and Oct. 16 as well as the homecoming parade on Sept. 23.
This year’s theme is The Light That Remains. The band is conducted by student drum majors Elise Deitte, Haley Jodlowski, and Sebastian Kellar.
“With an ensemble as large and involved as ours, we have a truly unique opportunity to come together from all corners of the school to create something much bigger than ourselves,” Jodlowski said. “I can’t wait to see what this season has in store for us, and what our incredible community can accomplish over the course of just a few short months.”
The ensemble is led by band directors Doug Brown, Eric Rothacker, and Michael Ver Voort; color guard coach Kasey Graff; and percussion coaches Patrick Coughlin and Sebastiaan de Waart. Field staff coaches include Noah Brockway, Shu Cui, and Darlayne Coughlin.
Learn more on Middleton Band Booster’s website at www.middletonbandboosters.org.
Photo credit: Amy Unbehaun