FAIRMONT – This week and next week, the 160-member Fairmont High School Marching Band is going to be all gas, no brakes.

Traditionally, they would have three weeks of rehearsals and performances around southern Minnesota. This year, Marching Band Director Kate Kallenbach said they only have two weeks for all of their rehearsals and four performances.

“A lot of times the first week we will only have maybe three rehearsals,” she said. “This year we have five, which I think is only to our benefit because then we can have one of our stronger performances in Fairmont. That’s what we want to do since it’s our hometown parade.”

Another way it has been helpful is it has added a third week for Kallenbach to work exclusively with the 75-member touring group. Every three years, the group performs on the west or east coast while also taking in the sights and experiences. This year, they will be visiting Washington and California from June 27 through July 6 due to being accepted to perform in the Sonoma Parade.

As for the whole group, Kallenbach said the first three days of rehearsals have gone well.

“We have an exciting group that just left seventh grade,” she said. “They are a strong group of musicians who are enhancing everything grades 9 through 12 are doing.”

They have also had to contend with people missing, including track and field members who are at the state competition. Working with that, Kallenbach said it is all about making the right adjustments.

“You want to make sure that each row is as consolidated as possible,” she said. “It’s nice when you have five people in a row. That’s what we normally do, so they can guide each other.”

The traveling group will play a piece called Champion-Era, a combination of a classical marching band tune “Championship” and classical tune by nature “Habanera”. The group has been rehearsing this number for the past three years in preparation for their trip. Flutist Maya Earhart has been there for all three years, said she remembers what it felt like way at the beginning.

“It was a little nerve-wracking because there were people in the band who already knew what they were doing and we were new,” she said. “You’re there not knowing what you’re doing. Overall, the people were great, they taught us.”

When it comes to making it to the culmination of three years of work, Earhart said she is excited to take the overall experience in.

“Marching, seeing everything with a friend group,” she said. “Surrounding yourself, I’m thrilled.”

In addition to the performance, the group will be treated to a plethora of opportunities. These include the Seattle Aquarium, a performance of Bye Bye Birdie, the Space Needle, Alcatraz, the Golden Gate Bridge, a dinner cruise on the Puget Sound and an overall exploration of Seattle and San Francisco.

For Kallenbach, this trip is an opportunity to broaden the horizons of dozens of students.

“I know I have students that will never get out of Martin County, probably in their lifetime,” she said. “This is their chance to do that. I love the opportunity to travel. Fairmont is wonderful, and Martin County is awesome, but there are other parts of the world that we should see, too. This is going to be a great experience for them.”

A whole different type of experience is happening for brand new marching band members, like Alto Saxophonist Thor Olson and Bells player Cadleigh Jobe. On top of taking on a whole new responsibility, they are also both transferring into the Fairmont public schools for the first time.

After being told about the opportunity, Olson said it just made sense.

“I decided, why not give this a shot?” he said. “I love band, so why wouldn’t I love marching band?”

Jobe said it has been a fantastic experience thus far.

“My older sister played in this marching band, and I always wanted to experience it,” she said. “I’m so glad I did. Everyone’s so kind and tries to help in any way.”

After their Interlaken Days Parade at 6p.m. on June 14, they will perform at the Mountain Lake Pow Wow Parade at 4 p.m. on June 16. For their final two performances, they will have a doubleheader June 21 at Lakefield Summerfest’s Parade and St. James Railroad Days.