While many teens whiled away the few remaining weeks of summer, a cadre of musicians at Oak Harbor High School were working to jumpstart a new school tradition.

For the first time in Wildcat history, every half-time at home football games will feature a performance by the newly formed Wildcat Show Band.

The band, which debuted at the Sept. 2 home game, was formed by director Brandon Nelson in an effort to amplify the band’s presence in the community.

Nelson said he recognized a desire among staff, students and community members for such an increased presence immediately after he stepped into the role of band director last year.

Within his first year at the school, Nelson started several new projects, including directing a halftime show at the 2015 homecoming game and putting together an extracurricular drumline group with the help of a Navy volunteer.

Following the success of those endeavors, Nelson decided this year to establish the show band.

Students participate in the show band as an extracurricular activity, and though most are also band students, it is not required.

The band is an addition to the two other school marching bands, the Wildcat Pep Band and OHHS Marching Band, both of which are curricular.

All OHHS band students and show band members are required to simultaneously participate in the OHHS Marching Band.

“Marching band is an essential element of music education and high school culture,” Nelson wrote in an email.

Within the past 50 years, OHHS has had five band directors, four of whom Nelson has met.

Although the band has traditionally performed pep music while stationary on the field, there has never been a true show band to Nelson’s knowledge.

In addition to the opportunity to stand apart from their peers, the students involved in show band are afforded the chance to further hone their musical skills while developing a greater sense of perseverance and confidence.

Nelson also noted that being involved in band positively influences the students’ development in other areas as well, requiring all parts of the mind and body to work harmoniously.

“The math brain is producing rhythm, articulation and tempo; the language brain is choosing what notes to play; the senses are locked in on listening and watching your fellow musicians, and the body is caught between all of these demands from the brain, while learning how to manipulate an instrument,” he wrote in an email. “And in marching band, you have to do all this while running around outside.”

In addition to regular after-school practices during the school year, the 54 show band students enrolled took part in a band camp Aug. 22-26 and 29-31 to become acquainted with one another and to prepare for the year ahead.

Although Nelson said some of the students consider themselves “the antithesis of athletes,” the camp incorporated quite a bit of physical exercise in order to cultivate better endurance and precision.

“Today we achieved over 100 crunches, planked for over a minute, and marched over a mile while either shouting or playing their instruments,” he wrote.

“How many people run a mile while shouting non-stop?”

Though participation requires hard work, Nelson noted that the payoff will make it well worthwhile.

“They will get to perform in front of thousands of people, who will scream for them,” he wrote. “Show band is a place where kids find out they can do things they never thought possible, and can build a sense of self-worth and pride in any student.”

Jordan George, a tuba-player who has been in band since sixth grade, said he has received positive responses thus far from classmates and friends he’s spoken to about the show band, and said he’s looking forward to the chance to bring more attention to the school’s music program.

“I’m looking forward to being on the field and playing and hearing all the fans, whether they’re there for football or some that just come for the band, hearing them be excited about having us perform for them.”

Will Frantz, a drummer who has also been in band since sixth grade, said he’s looking forward to seeing how far the band can get.

He’s watched videos of show bands on YouTube, and though he said those students have practiced together for years, he’s confident OHHS can achieve that level of cohesion and skill over time.

“It’s kind of sad it had to fall in my junior year, but I’m excited for Oak Harbor,” he said.