The Crestwood Scarlet opened its 2026 competitive season in exciting fashion on Saturday, September 19, debuting its production, “unMASKed,” at the Louisville Music in Motion competition. The Scarlet Guard invited the audience into the mysterious and elegant world of the masquerade, transforming the field into a ballroom through music, movement and visual storytelling. It proved to be an incredible opening night. The Scarlet Guard earned 1st Place in Class A, Best Guard in Class A and Best of Show Visual, earning the highest visual honor of the competition across all participating classes. The Scarlet also received an overall rating of Superior, officially qualifying the band for the 2026 OMEA State Marching Band Finals. The achievement marks the 40th time in the past 44 years that the Crestwood Band Program has qualified for State Finals. It is also the third consecutive year the Scarlet has earned an overall Superior Rating at its State Finals qualification on the very first competition of the season.
The adjudication panel praised the production and Crestwood’s student performers for their ability to draw the audience into the world of the show. Throughout the performance, the students brought the ballroom to life with confidence, musicality, movement and emotion, creating an experience that extended far beyond the notes and steps on the field.
The 2026 production features music arranged by Alex Thode to tell the story of unMASKed, including Ludwig van Beethoven’s “Symphony No. 7, II: Allegretto” and “Moonlight Sonata,” Hans Zimmer’s “Discombobulate,” Danny Elfman’s “Victor’s Piano Solo,” Bruno Coulais’ “End Credits from Coraline,” and Dmitri Shostakovich’s “Symphony No. 10, II: Allegro.” The production also features numerous outstanding student soloists throughout the show including: Alice Forson, Lilly Hemrock , River Kasper, Ryan Keefer, Kaitlyn Roberts, Kayln Downey, Brielle Hunter, Kylee Downey, and Kylee Zornes. Leading the Scarlet on the field this season are Senior Drum Major Emily Maretka and Junior Drum Major Jeffrey Hansen. The band is under the leadership of Director of Bands, Angela Adkins who is in her 8th year in the district, and 26th overall as a music educator.
The Scarlet will next take unMASKed to the national stage on Saturday, October 3, traveling to the Bands of America Northwest Regional Championship at the University of Toledo’s Glass Bowl Stadium. Crestwood will perform alongside marching bands from multiple states in one of the biggest performances of its season. The band will then complete its 2026 OMEA competition schedule at Copley High School on October 17 and Brunswick High School on October 24, before returning to the OMEA State Marching Band Finals. The date and performance time for OMEA State Finals will be announced once determined.
Behind every performance is an incredible community of families, staff, alumni and supporters who make these opportunities possible. The Crestwood Band Program extends its sincere appreciation to the Crestwood Band Boosters and Booster President Carla Sindelar, as well as Superintendent Aireanne Curtis and Crestwood Local Schools, for their continued support of the students and the Crestwood Band Program.
