Band Director

Won the State Championship in 1969

Joe Guth came to Marion in 1967 to lead the Marion Marching Giants and be Music Coordinator for Marion Community Schools. Even though he arrived late in the summer, he was able to lead the Marching Giants to a 16th place finish that year in the Indiana State Fair Marching Band Competition held annually in Indianapolis. In 1968, the Marching Giants, placed second, losing by just one point. In 1969 Mr. Guth’s Marching Giants won the State Fair Championship! In addition to the State Fair competitions, the band performed on nationwide TV during half time of a Chicago Bears vs. Baltimore Colts game. In 1970 Mr. Guth (with the support of hundreds of Marion patrons) took the band to Europe to participate in the World Festival of Music in Kerkade, Holland. The band placed second in the overall competition, losing to an Australian all-male band in a narrow decision. In 1971 Mr. Guth entered the Marching Giants in the Northern Indiana Regional Band competition, considered to be the most demanding interscholastic instrumental contests in the state at the time. Once again, the band distinguished itself, receiving the sweepstakes award of the competition. On December 8, 1972, Mr. Guth resigned his position and accepted a district sales manager job with the Selmar Music Company. Although his stay at Marion was short, his impact was Giant. The State Championship, the runner-up spot in the international competition, and high profile performances are still remembered today. But perhaps more importantly, the inspiration and discipline he instilled in his students changed their lives. Several of his students went on to become professional musicians, and two of them were in the inaugural group inducted into the Marion Giants Arts Hall of Fame: Tim Wendt and Tommy Wells.