In this episode of the Marching Arts Utah Podcast, we sit down with Darin Graber, Director of Bands at Bingham High School, to discuss his remarkable career in music education and the evolution of one of Utah's most respected marching band programs.

Darin shares his journey from growing up in Kansas and performing in a family band to becoming a longtime educator in Utah's Jordan School District. Along the way, he reflects on the experiences that shaped his teaching philosophy, his passion for jazz, and why he chose high school music education over a college career.

The conversation explores the growth of Bingham's marching band program—from a 41-member ensemble struggling for recognition to a competitive program with state championships, national travel opportunities, and a strong culture of student leadership. Darin also offers candid insights into the challenges facing modern marching bands, including competition classifications, rising program costs, student participation, and the increasing influence of Drum Corps International on high school marching arts.

Whether you're a band director, student, parent, or marching arts enthusiast, this episode provides a thoughtful look at leadership, program building, and the life lessons that make music education so impactful.

We film all of our podcasts. Please subscribe to us on YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/@MarchingArtsUtah

Watch this episode here: https://youtu.be/1jm9fxr6gzI

Disclaimer: This platform is fundamentally opposed to the use of generative AI, especially in the general field of human performing arts, and we are dedicated to producing 100% human-created content at all times.

In this episode of the Marching Arts Utah Podcast, creative director Jessica Glasgow shares her journey from a young baton twirler in Colorado to becoming one of the most influential designers in the marching arts today. Jessica discusses her early experiences in music, color guard, drum corps, and Winter Guard International, as well as the mentors and opportunities that shaped her career.

The conversation dives deep into the art and science of show design, exploring how ideas become productions, how designers balance creativity with competitive requirements, and why collaboration is essential to creating memorable performances. Jessica also reflects on her time at American Fork, the evolution of Utah’s marching arts scene, lessons learned from marching world-class winter guard as an adult, and the importance of continuously seeking growth as an artist.

Whether you're a student, educator, designer, performer, or marching arts fan, this episode offers a rare behind-the-scenes look at the creative process that brings marching band and drum corps productions to life.

We film all of our podcasts. Please subscribe to us on YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/@MarchingArtsUtah

Watch this episode here: https://youtu.be/ijgFXqQBoKM

Disclaimer: This platform is fundamentally opposed to the use of generative AI, especially in the general field of human performing arts, and we are dedicated to producing 100% human-created content at all times.

In this episode of the Marching Arts Utah Podcast, Ethan Johnson takes us behind the scenes of one of the most technical parts of modern marching band: audio engineering. Ethan shares how he went from discovering marching band at Westlake High School to becoming an audio engineer for high school programs, DCI, and professional marching arts productions.

The conversation explores how marching band audio actually works, including microphones, speakers, mixers, wireless systems, front ensemble amplification, and the design decisions that shape how a production sounds in a stadium. Ethan also discusses the differences between high school and DCI audio and the lessons he learned from experienced engineers.

Ethan also discusses music licensing and copyright, explaining some of the challenges programs face when recording and sharing performances online. He closes with advice for students interested in audio engineering and discusses his company, Dragon Scale Audio, which provides audio design, installation, consultation, and recording services for the marching arts.

This is an inside look at the technology, creativity, and technical expertise that help bring modern marching band productions to life.

Contact Ethan directly if you are interested in his services:

Email: dragonscaleaudio@gmail.com

Instagram: @dragonscaleaudio

We film all of our podcasts. Please subscribe to us on YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/@MarchingArtsUtah

Watch this episode here: https://youtu.be/CaM_QBrJpW0

Disclaimer: This platform is fundamentally opposed to the use of generative AI, especially in the general field of human performing arts, and we are dedicated to producing 100% human-created content at all times.