A brand-new marching band will step onto the field for the very first time Thursday night, when Gamble Montessori High School's Gators host their homecoming game in Cincinnati's Westwood neighborhood. It's the culmination of months of practice for a band program that only had 18 participants a year ago and now counts 30 — and band director Greg Thatcher has deliberately scheduled just one performance this entire season.
A Single Show, By Design
According to WKRC, Thatcher said the one-and-done performance schedule eases pressure on the young musicians and gives the band room to grow before expanding further. His initial goal, he told the station, was simply to let students experience a Friday night football game as performers rather than spectators. Thatcher said marching band participation can build student confidence, school pride and a sense of community — and that creating those bonds was the whole point of starting the program in the first place.
The band's debut comes at Gamble Montessori's homecoming game. Thursday's show will mark the band's only scheduled appearance this season, opening with the national anthem before the band cheers from the stands and returns at halftime to perform Push It and Pharrell's Happy.
Rebuilding After a Pandemic Dip
The program is rebuilding after the pandemic left it struggling to retain student involvement, the station's report notes. Growing from 18 students last year to 30 this year is itself a notable jump, and Thatcher hopes the band will reach at least 50 members next year. He also hopes this year's debut marks the start of a tradition that lasts for generations, rather than a one-off novelty.
Student saxophonist Liam May, who plays in the band, said he hopes the activity earns him credit toward college. Fellow student Darin McClinton said students may feel nervous but are excited and expect to perform well, adding that teamwork and practice will help the smaller band sound good despite its size. Some Gamble Montessori students already have marching experience through Cincinnati Public Schools' All-City Marching Band, a district-wide ensemble that includes student musicians from across the district.
A Bigger Stage for CPS Musicians
That district-wide band has given Cincinnati students exposure to major civic stages well beyond a single school's homecoming game. In December 2025, the Cincinnati Public Schools All-City Marching Band made history by performing a halftime show at a Cincinnati Bengals game at Paycor Stadium, according to Cincinnati Public Schools.
The Cost of Starting a Band From Scratch
Gamble Montessori's band program relies on donations and fundraisers to get off the ground, a reality that reflects a national pattern for emerging high school music programs. High school marching band programs nationwide face steep capital requirements — a single set of 60 uniforms can run $15,000 to $40,000, and full show productions can cost $20,000 to $50,000, according to research cited by Big Fundraising Ideas.
A Montessori School With Deep Roots
Gamble Montessori has a 21-year history. Cincinnati Public Schools has a long history with the teaching model, including a public Montessori program dating to 1975, according to MontessoriPublic.
The school moved into its permanent campus in August 2019, following a $10.9 million renovation and energy retrofit of the former 1920s Mother of Mercy High School building, per the CMTA case study on the project.
