What began 14 years ago as a modest middle school honors band has evolved into an unstoppable pipeline for young performers, mentors and future music educators.
During the 2026 DCI World Championships, Drum Corps International’s combined INpact and BANDtastic! Indy honors band ensembles brought 1,000 middle school musicians to Indianapolis. With a high number of applicants this season, the program presented by Conn-Selmer reached its maximum capacity, driven largely by word-of-mouth enthusiasm from past participants returning to inspire the next generation.
“We had about 1,400 apply, and we took 1,000 students,” said BANDtastic/INpact band director coordinator Katy Briel, who also serves as the instrumental education director for the Indiana State School Music Association. “I think we have the interest, but I don’t think we have the space or capacity to grow beyond that. Word of mouth from students who participate has made this something everybody wants to be a part of.”
To manage an operation of this scale, Briel relies on a network of nearly 150 music teachers and student leaders. The weekend included 60 to 80 visiting band directors and approximately 70 high school mentors who are students who previously played in the INpact Band and returned to manage logistics and guide the younger performers.
In its second year, DCI’s Emerging Music Educator Workshop presented by Conn-Selmer, also played a crucial role in supporting the program. Collegiate music education majors and early-career teachers spent Friday, August 7 in professional development workshops with top national clinicians before pairing up with veteran directors on Saturday, August 8 to help lead the BANDtastic! Indy ensemble.
“It creates this incredible full-circle pipeline,” Briel explained. “You’re a middle school student, then you can be a high school mentor, a collegiate worker, and eventually return as a director. We actually have several working directors now who started as middle schoolers in the INpact program.”
While students receive their sheet music over the summer to practice individually, the combined sound comes together in a whirlwind series of weekend rehearsals before stepping onto the field.
The multi-day experience culminated inside Lucas Oil Stadium as the kickoff to the DCI World Championship Finals. Performing under the direction of Dr. Jon Noworyta of the University of Indianapolis and Dr. Eric Scott of Indiana State University, the combined 1,000-piece ensemble delivered renditions of “Soda Pop” from “KPop Demon Hunters” and Ozzy Osbourne’s “Crazy Train.”
The performance featured guest soloist and longtime INpact fan favorite Al Chez, who joined the students on the field with his signature screaming high-note trumpet playing.
“The students love him,” Briel said. “In our post-event surveys, kids constantly list Al Chez as their favorite part.”
Looking ahead, DCI is always working to bring the BANDtastic model into other states across the country, while Briel and her team are already brainstorming an INpact alumni mass band event to bring back past participants from the program’s history.
“Standing on the field watching these students perform never gets old,” Briel said. “It really is magical.”
