Mills River – Karo Cumbie played music while lying against a giant wheel as band mates spun him upside down on West Henderson High School’s Johnson Field for a dozen recent football Friday nights.
His rotating flute solo was a captivating moment of West Henderson High School’s spectacular, award-winning halftime show entitled “Matter of Time.”
WHHS Band Director Allen Klaes, in his 15th year, created this halftime program. Its choreographer is Cloe Eidt, a West alumna. The show distinguished itself most visually from the school’s past shows, Klaes said. “We presented a spectacle. It’s different from what marching bands usually do and what people expect to see.” He spread out the band so “they look as big as they sound.” He marveled at seeing how “we had the crowd’s attention.”
The wheel looked like a clock (with Roman numerals) on the side that Cumbie leaned against and like an hourglass on the other side, which is what the home crowd mostly saw. Klaes said “we interacted with the wheel—climbing on it, swinging through it, and turning upside down while on it.” A pair of band members rotated the wheel by hand.
“It’s all incredible,” senior Sara McCrimmon said. “It’s so upbeat, fast-paced, and exciting. Our past shows were slow and cute.” She did an acrobatic routine on the wheel.
The Flying Falcon Marching Band performed this time-themed halftime show during an historic football season. The Varsity Falcons tied the 1984 squad for most (12) wins in West’s 60-year football history, most wins in a row (12), and deepest (round-three) drive into the playoffs. The Falcons were the 3A West Region’s second seed.
Several band members said it felt exciting to be a part of the large crowds’ enthusiasm at these games. West Coast students were frequently the loudest.Klaes reasoned that band members “enjoy peer admiration the most.” As is customary, the band periodically played tunes during the game while sitting in the home stands. They performed the show at halftime of regular-season games only.
West’s 61-member band won honors for “Matter of Time” at several area band contests. West won both “grand champion” and the fans’ choice at a competition that Enka hosted. Klaes said that “the band played well, and marched well” for crispness visually and audibly.
West’s band is young, with 22 freshmen, 13 sophomores, 15 seniors, and 11 juniors. Klaes said that “they’re smart kids. They work hard.” They performed one of their four community concerts on Dec. 12. Their next one is in March.
Time Theme
Klaes explained that the title “Matter of Time” has a dual meaning. “Time matters. Also, it’s only a matter of time before some good things happen.” Indeed, much good happened to the football Falcons in 2022.
The program had four songs in this order: Styx’s “Best of Times” from 1981, Coldplay‘s 2004 smash pop hit “Clocks,” the latest James Bond film’s theme, which is Billie Eilish’s “No Time To Die” from 2020, and Bob Hope’s theme song “Thanks for the Memory.”
“Clocks” was very timely in the regular season finale when West was “clocking” Tuscola, the Mountain Seven Conference’s other unbeaten team.
Drum major Josie Hollingsworth said that “it’s a big show. We knew it’d be challenging to pull off,” making it extra rewarding to do so. “Once we had done it a few times, it became much less stressful.”
The fourth-year band performer relished directing her “family” of peer musicians, and revving them up just before they took the field. “I’d go down each line (group), and give fist bumps.” She is intent on majoring in aerospace engineering.
Hollingsworth said that the somber ballad “No Time to Die” felt stirring to her.
Rotating Soloist
The show’s rotating flute solo was immersed in “No Time to Die.” Klaes said “our flute player is at the top of who could do solos” focused while rotating around. Cumbie, a junior and aspirant college music major, is the main flutist. Gavin Puleio, a sophomore, filled in for him in the final show.
The flute soloist had a microphone to amplify his music. He kept his feet on a wooden board protruding from the wheel. “It’s so I didn’t fall off when right-side up,” Cumbie said. “The harness is for when I go upside down. I strapped myself into it.” It was barely visible. The five-point race car safety harness fastened him to the wheel, keeping him secure while rotating.
Cumbie recalled that “when I first saw that harness, I wondered, ‘What have I got myself into it?!’ But I didn’t fall off — not even in practice.” A full run-through on padded Johnson Field turf was laid after school on game days. Earlier in the week, with the football team on the athletic field, the band had to practice on a school parking lot. Cumbie wore a bicycle helmet for safety, though he was rarely on the wheel and not upside down. He said, “We didn’t risk it on concrete, so I wouldn’t crack my head open.” He appreciated such “safety precautions.”
Cumbie mostly played alto saxophone in the show. The flute is his primary instrument, lightweight and thus easier to hold onto while upside down. “Luckily, I never dropped it,” Cumbie said.
He is proud that the band gave “No Time to Die” a broad “orchestral-like sound. The minor key adds to the suspension.” He said that ‘Thanks for the Memories’ had a “complicated (marching) drill to memorize,” while “Clocks” has a “neat trombone section.”
Acrobatic Sara
Sara McCrimmon’s acrobatic act preceded the flute solo, during “No Time to Die.” The wheel’s hourglass side was behind her.
The large dial has rungs for acrobatic gripping. She wore “guard gloves” to aid her grip. Band members stayed near her as “spotters” to catch her should she fall. Did she ever slip off? “Thankfully not. It was a little wet at times. But if I felt myself starting to slip, I’d jump off immediately.”
McCrimmon spun flags during the rest of the show. She is eyeing a degree in fashion marketing and management.
Encourager Klaes
Band Director Klaes’ surname rhymes with “place.” The Travelers Rest, S.C. native drew praise from his students. Cumbie said, “He’s never been discouraging. Some other band directors in this area pushed my friends way over the edge. Mr. Klaes always told us what he believed we could do and the steps to take to achieve our goals.”
In turn, Klaes credits the calm guidance of veteran local band director Sean Smith. “Sean helped encourage me as a new band teacher” when he was at East Henderson and then Reynolds. Now Smith is at Rugby Middle, West’s feeder school.