The leader of the Perry High School Band recognizes all the achievements made throughout the 2024-25 school year.

Director Blaine Schmidt says there was a lot of success as a whole within the music department, especially with Perry once again being able to host the 41st Band Olympics after last year when it was moved to North Polk High School following the tragic shooting in January of 2024. 

Most recently, Schmidt was contacted by the University of Iowa Band Director Mark Heidel, and as an alumni himself, Heidel wanted Perry to perform in their May concert. Schmidt notes that the band played songs at the show, while also exploring the campus, the music building, and got a front row seat to watch the Iowa Symphony Band perform. Schmidt is in his fourth year as the band director, and elaborates on why the 2024-25 year was extremely special for him.

“The senior class this year was just so great. And I’ve had great senior classes every year, and it was a really special group because they were my first freshmen when I got here. So it was cool to see their journey all the way through high school and a really special moment for me as the director.”

Schmidt explains that when he took over the Perry band program in 2021, this was the biggest senior class he’s had with 14 members. He shares accomplishments that were made during the 2024-25 school year included both the concert and marching bands earning Division 1 Ratings at the respective state festivals for the second consecutive year, plus Schmidt was grateful to the nine high school bands that helped make the Perry Band Olympics possible.