“Burnin Love,” “C.C. Rider,” and “Can’t Help Falling in Love” are some of Elvis Presley’s hits that will be performed by the Lisbon Marching Band this fall.

The idea for an Elvis theme was planted during a band trip a year and a half ago. On the trip the music department had visited Elvis’s mansion, which inspired many students to begin listening to Elvis. Band director Joseph Arch took the idea and ran with it.

This fall they will put the show on the field to entertain the crowd at competitions and halftime shows at Lisbon varsity football games.

“I really like the music, and it is just so much fun to play,” said Adelyn Ricke, junior flute player.

Arch has always had the philosophy that the band should focus on playing something for the crowd to enjoy. Rather than playing a show that is aimed to score high at competitions.

“I always like to put out things that people in the crowd will know,” Arch said.

The band will have more than 50 musicians and will be led by their drum major, Sarah Dietsch. This is her second year as drum major.

“I enjoy having control of it all and if something happens, taking care of it quick and quietly,” Dietsch said. “I’m proud of the band that we show every year.”

Dietsch will be a senior this year and is one of the seven seniors in the marching band. This group of seniors is the smallest class in the band.

“It’s our turn to come out and make this show the best it can be,” Dietsch said. “We were given a wonderful opportunity by Arch by getting this big Elvis show that has so many big changes and fun stuff thrown into it.”

A small group of seniors does produce a challenge for the band with a little less experience. But it allows for the returning classes to take on a bigger leadership role.

“The seniors are going to leave next year so [this year] is like training so when we step up as seniors next year, we are more prepared,” Ricke said.

This ideology is passed down to the students through Arch. As the director, Arch is focused on developing kids through their four years of marching band to get the band improving continuously.

“What we’re trying to do is make the program sustainable for years and years and years,” said Arch, “So this is just one step along the way there.”