Bingham band: Patrice Densley profile

In early February, I interviewed Patrice Densley, who was the Color Guard section leader for the Bingham High School Marching Band. During our 30-minute session, her exuberance was noticeable and she was a pleasure to talk to. I could just imaging her smiling the whole time. Here is the article that will appear in the Bingham band's yearbook.

Patrice Densley:

 

Her exuberance rubbed off on others

and gave the show something special

 

By Bruce Smith

Matchup

 

            When it came time to picking a section leader for the Color Guard, leaders of the Bingham 2012 Marching Band needed someone quick – with a lot of energy.

            Patrice Densley was the profound choice. Perhaps only Miquel Lotz and David Belnap – who were co-captains – could match her speed and exuberance.

            “I’m a very happy person. That’s what everyone else should remember (about me),” she said.

            Most everyone in the 130-person band knew Densley, and having that many friends is what she appreciated most.

            All season, she literally carried the flag of the 19-person Color Guard as they ran through other sections during the show and mixed in well. They started running in August when they began learning their routes at Band Camp, and they didn’t stop until the Bands of America performance.

            “The Color Guards … we wanted to be seen,” Densley said. “The Marching Band makes the sets, but the Color Guard makes the color and we connect with the audience. It gives us a story aspect to the show.”

            Prior to each performance, they decorated themselves. The group became one personality and each was followed by the fans in the stands. If there was a mistake, it was noticed. If it was perfect, that’s how it was supposed to be.

            For Densley, that’s what made the BOA show her favorite memory.

            “It was our state competition, and it had never been done before,” she asid. “We made it to the finals we’ve never experienced that. (Band director Darin) Graber told us that other bands had been doing BOA for years and had never made it to the finals. It was a cool thing for us.”

            The celebration went on for a long time. Unlike the band, the Color Guard showed its emotions and, even months later, still relished the year’s accomplishment.

            “We had to practice a lot,” Densley said. “You have to learn how to learn quickly and coordinate your hands well. You have a lot of movement and you’re always moving something else.

            “A lot of times during practices we had to keep our spirits up, we would do fun rhymes,” she added. “ We all would ride the same bus together, which helps unity within our team. Learning how to cooperate with each other helps a lot.”

            Being the youngest of eight children, Densley already knew a lot about that. Her close-knit family liked to sing together and several of her siblings played in bands. Her older brother, Riley, was part of the Bingham Marching Band. When he graduated, Patrice followed.

            She said enjoyed being in a leadership role and figured it helped her listen to others. She also enjoyed working with Belnap, who was in charge of the weapons (wooden or plastic rifles). Belnap was the lone male the last two seasons and the duo “made a strong connection.”

            “It’s not easy carrying weapons because we’re doing so much running,” Densley said. “They’re more difficult to spin, too, and the harmful thing is hitting yourself with it. I did that many times.”

            After the marching band season, Densley continued performing with the Bingham Winter Guard and was also involved with the school choir. After graduation, she would like to go to college and become a teacher.