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Band & Color Guard

About the Director

Matthew Skiba was born and raised in West Lafayette, Indiana. He received his Bachelor's in Music Education from DePauw University after completing a student teaching placement with Avon High School. Following completion of this degree, Mr. Skiba worked for two years as the Graduate Assistant for Athletic and Concert Bands at Purdue University working with multiple concert and pep bands as well as the "All-American" Marching Band.

Mr. Skiba began teaching at Tipton High School in June 2018, and the program has seen a number of successes, such as four consecutive earnings of the prestigious ISSMA All-Music Award; a trip to St. Louis; performances for the Indiana Pacers, Indianapolis Indians, and Indy Fuel; and the marching band's first-ever appearances at Bands of America Grand Nationals and the Indiana State Fair Band Day Night Show. Mr. Skiba earned his Master's degree in Music Education from the American Band College in 2021. In his free time, he enjoys traveling and supporting his favorite sports teams (Indiana Pacers, Chicago Bears, and Boston Red Sox).

Recent Highlights

Some recent highlights of the Band Department include:

  • Annual trips to Indiana Beach after the conclusion of the middle school summer band program
  • Pre-game or national anthem performances for the Indiana Pacers, Indy Fuel, and Indianapolis Indians
  • 3-day trip to St. Louis
  • Upcoming trip to Orlando, Florida
  • Marching band's first-ever appearances at Bands of America Grand Nationals and the Indiana State Fair Band Day Night Show
  • Jazz band's attendance at jazz festivals at Purdue and DePauw University
  • The color guard program has tripled in size over the last two years
  • The color guard program participated in its first full winter season during the 2021/2022 school year
  • The middle school concert band recently commissioned a new piece by composer William Owens
  • The middle school band program has earned decades of Gold ratings
  • The high school program has earned the prestigious ISSMA All-Music Award for seven consecutive years

Band & Guard Gallery

Pacers Mascot boomer, a blue cat, makes an appearance at the band's performance.
The Indiana Pacers mascot, Boomer, decided to join us during our pre-game performance at Gainbridge Fieldhouse
TCSC students sporting blue shirts perform on-field.
Students performing at Ross-Ade Stadium for Purdue Band Day
Member of the guard swings two purple and silver flags
A member of the color guard performs at State Fair for the 2022 production of "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde"
Several band members marching, each in step and wearing sharp black and blue uniforms
Members of the Pride of the Blue Devils Marching Band finish the 2022 production of "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde"
Close-up shot of a band member playing during the show.
Students performing the 2021 production "Phoenix Rising"
Students performing the 2021 show Phoenix Rising. A band member wears a sequined, long jacket of gold and red.
Students performing the 2021 production "Phoenix Rising"
Band members on-stage. Giant phoenix on a canvas in the background.
A shot from the Pride of the Blue Devils Marching Band record-setting 2021 production "Phoenix Rising"
Students in black, white, and dark blue uniforms strike a pose together during the performance.
Students showcase the choreography they learn during the 2021 production "Phoenix Rising"
Dane Burton plays a French horn. He wears a black suit, and has light brown hair.
Dane Burton, Class of 2021, performing at a concert and representing our students who go on to pursue music as a career
Members of the band are shown in classy uniforms. They march on bright green turf.
Students performing at Lucas Oil Stadium at the Bands of America Grand Nationals weekend
Student Mason Henderson plays a trumpet during a concert. He has light brown hair and wears a black suit.
Mason Henderson, Class of 2019, performing during a concert
Band members performing. They wear a more traditional band uniform featuring black pants and a blue jacket with a white T on it.
Students marching during the 2019 production "Arabian Nights"
Student Zach Peters, expression serious, sits, surrounded by instruments.
Some students get extra performance opportunities like Zach Peters, Class of 2021, performing in the pit band for the Tipton Community Theater's production of "9 to 5"
The pep band is shown performing at a basketball game.
Basketball season means pep band! The Blue and White Sound, or BAWS, performs in the Inferno!
The jazz band, clad in all black, performs at DePauw at the annual Jazz Fest.
The Blues Devils Jazz Ensemble has a lot of opportunities to travel and is shown here performing at DePauw University for their annual Jazz Fest
Members of the color guard perform in the TCSC auditorium--on stage!
The color guard prepares for their bi-annual Guard for a Day event

Band Department Overview

The Band Department is primarily run by its two directors: Rob Shaver with the middle school program, and Matthew Skiba with the high school program. The Band Department is responsible for a number of ensembles:

  • 6th grade Cadet Band
  • 7th/8th grade Concert Band
  • THS Wind Ensemble
  • Pride of the Blue Devils Marching Band
  • Blues Devils Jazz Ensemble
  • Blue and White Sound Pep Band
  • Cadet Color Guard
  • Varsity Color Guard

Follow TCSC's Band & Guard

  • Leadership Opportunities

    There are a number of leadership and community service opportunities within the band program. Upperclassmen students in high school can be selected as drum majors for the marching band, student leaders for the concert band, or band leaders for the pep band. Members of the band and color guard are also eligible for membership in the Tri-M Music Honor Society once they turn 16 years old and maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.5.