The Fishers High School Marching Tigers band did not make it to the Marching Band State Finals, but its director says the band turned in its best performance at the Oct. 24 semistate competition.

The band advanced to the Indiana State School Music Association’s Semi-State Marching Band Festival for the first time. Fishers was one of 20 schools competing in the semistate at Ben Davis and one of two in Hamilton County to make the cut.

The 130-member Fishers group was among 10 advancing from the Class A regional at Indiana State University in Terre Haute.

“We were about a point and half within being in the top ten (at the semistate),” said band director Charles Kunz. "It got very close. The kids had a tremendous show. They played really well and it was inspiring.

“Everybody came off the field feeling really good about things. In fact, most of the band feels that was our best performance ever.”

Kunz said there are no regrets about the band not making it to the state contest since it has improved each year since the high school opened formed four years ago.

In 2006 — the first year the Tigers competed — they received a silver award in the district contest. By the second year, the band moved up a notch to earn gold and advanced to the regional, where it earned silver.

Last year, the band received a gold rating at district and regional competitions but didn’t finish in the top 10, which meant it didn’t advance to the semistate competition.

Kunz said his team is already brainstorming ideas for next year.

“But as far as advancement, we’re not predicting ‘Oh, next year we’re going to the state contest,’ " he said. “Hopefully we will continue to do well, improve and have a good time doing it.”

The state finals competition was Oct. 31 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.