ELWOOD — Paula Simmons has been doing this for so long, she can’t remember when she started.

“How many years have I been here?” she asks someone outside her office. “I think 29. I’m not sure.”

Simmons, band director for Elwood Community High School, said she brings her experience to bear on this year’s show.

“Very nicely,” she said replied when asked how the show was coming together.

“The kids are working really, really hard. They’re having fun with it, and to me, that’s the important part of education. You want everything to be musical, but if they’re not having any fun, they’re not going to want to stick with it.”

The program, titled “Stars of Freedom,” is built around two pieces of music, as well as one really big prop.

“The two pieces we’re combining for state fair are ‘Flight of the Thunderbird’ by Richard Saucedo of Carmel, and the second piece is called ‘In Defense of Liberty,’ arranged by Jay Dawson,” she said.

And the prop? “Our entire drill is actually designed around a huge star. It’s very cool. Our drill writer did a phenomenal job.”

“I feel like we are making so much more progress than we have before,” said junior Natalie Warren. “I think we’re going to be so successful this year.”

Sharon Church, treasurer of the Elwood Band Boosters, has four kids of her own in this year’s band.

“It’s wonderful,” she said. “They really enjoy participating. Paula has a wonderful program, and it’s made them all better students. One of the best things we have here at Elwood Community High School is our band and our music program.”

As for “Stars of Freedom,” Church said the show she’d seen so far was “beautiful. It’s going to be wonderful. Very well designed.”

Warren, daughter of Theresa and Scott Warren, is drum major for the Elwood band.

“I’ve actually been in band since sixth grade,” she said. “I’ve been in the high school band all three years.”

Warren said the other band members were taking to the show well. “We have good drill, good music that fits together well and everything,” she said.