The duPont Manual "Crimson Sound" Marching Band is one of the the most visible ensembles on the duPont Manual/YPAS campus. The Manual Band consists of students grades 9-12 (and some 8th graders) representing all 5 Manual Magnet Programs. The band can be heard and seen throughout the community at all home varsity football games, marching band competitions, parades and pep assemblies. The band consists of students from all 5 magnet programs at duPont Manual High School with a diverse range of talent. This is a great organization for a student to join where they belong to a network of friends right away. This especially helps with incoming freshman as they make the transition from middle school to high school.
The marching band has experienced its largest membership in recent history and will perform at the Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom Electric Light Parade in front of an estimated crowd of 10,000 people from around the world. This is a trip the band takes every two years. The trip will take place January of 2021
The marching band is a competitive band, which means band camp and after school rehearsals are focused on developing one "themed" show that is full of challenging music, drill and choreography. Since the band consists of many All-State and All-County level musicians along with YPAS band majors, the "Crimson Sound" takes great pride in performing challenging and exciting music that excites the football and competition crowds. The band competes in roughly 5-6 marching band contests around the state each year.
Students who join marching band receive a half credit in the fall semester for the class (meets after school on Tuesday and Thursday from 3:00 -5:30 pm and Fridays from 2:45-4:15) and must attend band camp weeks. This is a common practice for all marching bands across the United States. Camp activities start around mid July. During this time, students will begin to work on an overall ensemble sound, learn/memorize show music, learn stands tunes, learn how to march, learn drill and begin to look and sound like a quality marching band. This of course is something that continues throughout the season. The marching band season concludes with the last football playoff games, usually the first week in November.