Conant marching band and color guard take home win at the Labor Day parade

Christianna Tai

In Schaumburg’s famous Labor Day parade, the Conant Marching Band and Color Guard won the award of the best marching band at the Labor Day Parade for the first time since 2017. 

“It was funny, we don’t really put much emphasis on it because we don’t compete a lot. It was wonderful seeing the kids work so hard, and it was wonderful seeing the progress we made.” Band Director Leann Roder-Manson said.

Each year at the Septemberfest parade, Conant Marching Band clashes with Schaumburg to determine which band performed the best in the parade. This year, the band played the famous AC/DC song, “Back in Black.” A committee of judges votes on which band played and marched the best. In an anonymous decision, the judges announced that the Conant Marching Band had beaten the Saxons.

In an email directed to the students, Band Director Kreg Moorhouse wrote “Congratulations on a successful parade performance at Septemberfest 2025. This marching band, along with the fabulous Color Guard, really showed all those in attendance how hard you worked.” Moorhouse was in charge of Conant’s representation in the parade.

In total, the band and color guard spent over 50 hours of their summer vacation training for the Parade and similar events. They worked to memorize movements and music. 

“It makes it feel like you didn’t waste a holiday since we put in so much work on a day off,” said Roder-Manson. 

Many students said they felt positive reactions from the crowd and a true sense of accomplishment and pride for Conant High school. Many also said they felt that the Band and Color Guard represented the school very well.

“As a junior, I already did this a few times before, I didn’t really expect to go out there and win. I had the impression that everyone was ready and prepared. I think every year, the marching band works really hard, and all the people put in a lot of effort to memorize the music.” Ajay Singh, 27’, a section leader in the band said.

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