East Lyme — The East Lyme High School marching band isn't gigantic, but the sound and visuals coming from it is.

Because of the band's size, with 46 band members, students involved said many people underestimate them. But they shouldn't. This year, the Vikings placed first in all but one competition they've entered in and were moving onto the state competition, ranked first in their division.

"For a small band, we have such a presence," Assistant Band Director Christine Jones said.

Unfortunately the New England States competition hosted by the United States Scholastic Band Association was cancelled this year because of bad weather. Students-especially seniors-said they were devastated. Last Friday was their last home game where they performed "Copland Lives," a collection of music by composer Aaron Copland, that has 88 sets with complicated marching, quick moves, and ballroom dancing.

"For me, it feels like the season's not over yet. There was no closure," Chad Hines, 18, a senior in the drum line said.

Drum major and senior Kelly Connell, 17, added, "It's bittersweet. With graduating, the hardest thing I'll have to let go of is the band. I can't imagine high school without the marching band."

Band director Sue Johnston said what makes this year's band special is their spirit.

Students in the band said this year they are extremely close with one another, inside and outside of school.

"All of us have grown to become a family," Junior Sean McCarty, 16, said.

"A crazy family," added junior Victoria Luce, 16, a color guard captain.

The ELHS band performs at all home football games and various competitions and parades. This year they marched in the Veterans Day parade in Hartford.

"We were just a little band, marching with five rows of kids but they were playing a huge sound, putting everything they have into it," Johnston said. "It makes me so proud."

The East Lyme High School marching band originated in 1967, when nine students turned out for the band program. Over the years, the program grew and prospered until there were approximately 175 marching members. The Vikings have traveled around the country while competing and performing, and they've appeared in international festivals in Jamaica and Vienna, Austria. The band was invited to perform at President Reagan's 1985 presidential inauguration. They also performed at the 1989 Hall of Fame Bowl and the 1993 Gator Bowl football games.

In the early days, it was not uncommon for weekly practices to be held year round. The band won many championships, and the program was nationally recognized. Over the years, there have been several directors of the program: Donald MacTavish (1967-1986), Richard Chiappetta (1986-2000), David Brush (2000-2006), Michael Parkinson/Christine Jones (co-acting directors 2006-2007), and Johnston (2007-present).

This year, students helped put together the "Copland Lives" routine. Some provided input about the music, while others, like junior Kiersten Sinko, 16, who plays the piccolo, helped choreograph the routine. She took ballroom dance lessons at Arthur Murray to learn how to waltz and perform one during a ballad that the band plays. Members of the color guard dance with those who are part of the drum line.

"There's been good energy from the beginning and a dedication this year," McCarty, said. "We really had potential to win states this year. Everyone was determined to do well."