As the second quarter of the football game wraps up, the band members begin their warmup behind the stands before marching out onto the field. For those who stay in their seats, halftime is more than just a break from the game; it’s a showcase of the bands’ artistry, talent, and perseverance. During the Hometown Showdown, it’s a celebration of two very different marching bands.

Hagerty and Oviedo High School are known for their long ongoing rivalry; the two schools are extremely competitive with each other, and this competition comes especially strong during the football game. On the field, competition often sparks heated emotions. But in the world of marching band, this competitiveness and rivalry transform into something entirely different: admiration, respect, and connection.

Hagerty’s Marching Huskies embrace the sort of “halftime show band” stereotype, blasting popular songs and crowd-pleasing hits in their performance. Oviedo’s Marching Lions, on the other hand, are a part of a competition band, dedicating themselves to the somewhat harsh yet rewarding competition style of marching, presenting their complex themes through theatrics and elaborate music and choreography.

John Lee, Hagerty’s head drum major, values the unique opportunities each band provides for its students. “I think it’s great that we have two high schools in Oviedo–one that participates in competitions and one that doesn’t. Each band, whether competitive or not, offers its own benefits to students. It’s valuable for us to be able to compare those strengths and make the best choice according to our individual needs as students in this community,” said Lee.

Junior Eric Stack-Thomas explains the difference from an audience perspective. “Oviedo’s band [music] is less recognizable and the themes aren’t always obvious,” Stack-Thomas said. “They’re better thought out and hold a deeper meaning, but they’re also much more complicated in movement pieces and equipment.”

This complexity can sometimes make it harder for a casual viewer to follow. In contrast, Hagerty’s band is a blend of upbeat arrangements and popular songs, thriving on cheers from the crowd.

“They play more recognizable music and their themes feel more recognizable overall,” said Stack-Thomas. 

Rocco Quinones, a junior formerly in Hagerty’s band (now in Oviedo’s) said, “I’d say, Hagerty’s music selection was recognizable, fun, and the marching I feel was very simplistic, as opposed to Oviedo’s band where the marching and music are both a lot more difficult… I do feel more challenged here at Oviedo, but I still miss some aspects of Hagerty’s band.”

Despite the different stylistic approaches from both bands, it is a beautiful blend of respect during halftime as opposed to the student section and in the teams. Both schools sit and watch the other perform, and always talk to the other after–and there is an important message in that. Even with the school’s rivalries and the two different styles of show, music has brought them together with respect and appreciation for each other’s craft.