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The Thorsby band will look quite different the next time you see them, after getting new uniforms.

The Rebels showcased their new look prior to the Thorsby Town Council meeting on March 6.

Prior to purchasing the new ensemble, the band members had been using the same uniforms for about the past 18 years.

“That’s a lot of people wearing the same uniform,” Clark said. “It was just time for this to happen and refresh the look of the band.”

Clark is in his fourth year as the band director at Thorsby and credited the fundraising that took place.

According to Clark, the process of getting to the point of purchasing uniforms was lengthy and in-depth.

“This current group of kids has done tons and tons of fundraising hours to earn the money,” Clark said. “It was also many generations of band members and parents that put the time and effort into it.”

The major difference in the uniform is the color scheme, which features more black to accompany maroon and reflect that of the football teams home uniforms.

For Clark, the uniforms were not just appearance, but also needed to be functional.

In the past, the pants have been light gray, but will now be black. The decision behind the move was to reduce the signs of wear.

Several uniform concepts were presented to the school’s boosters and they voted on the best option and style.

The headgear is a traditional-style “shako” hat.

This was the first year under Clark that the band won best in class in a competition format.

“We did that everywhere we went this year, which was a great improvement to see,” Clark said.

Currently the band is competing in concert band, after performing marching band during the first half of the school year.

“Band, much like any other sport, is a yearly thing,” Clark said. “We are always doing something, and it really doesn’t stop.”

They perform in the Peach Parade and hold band camp during the last week of July and first week of August.

“They were made for us, so the pants and jackets fit really good,” clarinet section leader Mabeli Ordaz said. “We weren’t suffocating in them.”

Clark thanked everyone who had a hand in the process, including Mayor Robert Hight, the Town Council members, former Mayor Jean Nelson, former principal Russ Bryan, principal Corey Clements and vice principal Tim Fortner.

“Thorsby is a tight knit community and there is a loyalty that exists,” Clark said. “We try to support each other as much as we can.”

Erica Hilyer is a senior and the band’s drum major. She has been in the band for the past two and a half years and has also competed on other sports teams at Thorsby.

“In sports you know exactly what you’re going to get, because if you hit a ball really hard it’s going to go far,” Hilyer said. “In band you could work your butt off, and you still have no idea what’s going to happen.”