Lakeside band ready for new season

Lakeside High School’s Viking Marching Band is ready to show crowds what they’ve been practicing.

“DeKalb County is extremely fortunate that Lakeside High School offers an outstanding band program under the direction of David Fairchild. Both Fairchild and Assistant Band Director Daniel MacNamara began their music careers when they were Lakeside students, so they feel a deep personal connection to the students, the program and the community,” said Michael Hoffer, president of the Lakeside Band Association.

The school’s band features nearly 100 students playing percussion, winds and brass instruments, as well as color guards and drum majors who will present their “We are…” halftime show for the current football season. The band gave its first performance Aug. 23.

“’We Are …’ is an exciting and appropriate theme for both our school and community as a whole,” said Fairchild.
The theme, according to Fairchild, means “We are Lakeside, we are diverse, we are community, we are musicians [and] we are stronger together.”

Students will perform a selection of pop and classical music during halftime performances.

“I hope our student musicians and the audiences who enjoy the performances will find their own unique meaning of ‘We Are …’ that reflects their own lives and experiences,” said Fairchild.

Not only will the band perform during football games, the marching and concert bands will participate in Atlanta’s annual Dragon Con parade Aug. 31 and the Stone Mountain Yellow Daisy Festival Sept. 5.

“Lakeside’s Marching Band is the only high school marching band invited to participate in the Dragon Con parade,” said Fairchild. “This is the largest parade in the city, enjoyed by tens of thousands of people both in person and via a live TV broadcast. We’re honored to be invited back for the fifth time to participate in this Atlanta tradition and we’re all looking forward to it.”