When drum major Ian Gau found out the Spartan Marching Band was now considered a sport at Glenbrook North, he was excited, yet surprised the change was finally made after years of conversation.
“I was happy,” said Gau. “And even beyond the obvious benefits that it helps me and some of my peers with, it was just nice to receive some of that recognition.”
Marching band is being designated as a sport at GBN as of this school year. It is composed of seven different sections: drum line, flutes and clarinets, low brass, pit, saxophones and mellophones, trumpets and color guard.
According to band director Daniel Briggs, marching band has been recognized as a sport by Illinois School Code and Glenbrook High School District #225 policy.
This recognition has allowed Glenbrook South students to receive P.E. waivers in the past, Briggs said.
“We wanted this, number one, for parity with our sister school at Glenbrook South,” said Briggs. “If they have the ability to do something, we should, because we are doing things the same way. So this year, we made sure that all things were aligned, and in that, also the P.E. waivers.”
The marching band does not participate in a state series since the IHSA does not recognize marching band as a sport. The team’s competition season remains unchanged.
Marching band placed first in the 2024 Night of Champions competition on Sept. 28, and won in three individual categories: outstanding music, outstanding
visuals and outstanding general effects. The color guard won first place in a section award for outstanding auxiliary, the visual ensemble category.
Color guard placed first in outstanding auxiliary for all three competitions they participated in during the 2024-25 season.
“This is the first time since I’ve been here, four years that I’ve coached, that the color guard has been undefeated,” said color guard instructor Brie Serdar. “So we’re very happy with that.”
According to Gau, a lot of physical strain and effort goes into participating in marching band.
“We are putting in numerous hours every week of physical activity, marching in step while holding our instruments in good posture, and it is probably much more of a physically exerting activity than most people would expect,” said Gau. “So I’d say in that respect, it is definitely not a stretch to call [marching band] or color guard, for that matter, a sport. Additionally, it’s competitive, like sports.”
Marching band has been slightly more involved with the student body this year, such as marching through the halls with Shield in celebration of certain events, Gau said.
“That was a way in which we, through the marching band, were able to better join with the community of students and teachers as well,” said Gau. “And I think that there might just be an additional level of respect if people can see the effort that does get put in behind the scenes now that it’s labeled a sport rather than just an activity.”