The sounds of music filled Free State High’s football stadium Thursday afternoon as a Texas-based marching band stopped in Lawrence to rest up and rehearse for a competition.

“We get in with schools, churches, anywhere that will let us spend the night, shower and rehearse,” said Rick Mendoza.

Mendoza is a horn line staff member for the Genesis Drum and Bugle Corps. The group is making its way to Indianapolis for a global competition. Genesis members include brass players, percussionists and color guard performers who are ages 15-21.

The young men and women drove into Lawrence on Wednesday. That day’s agenda included doing some laundry and resting. But Thursday was packed with 12 hours of practice in the extreme heat, on the artificial turf at Free State High.

“On the field it’s really hot, like 115 degrees,” Mendoza said. “But we’re from the very bottom of Texas, and it gets hotter than this there, so it’s OK, not so bad.”

The group slept in the high school’s gym Wednesday. Mendoza says Genesis members will sleep just about anywhere.

Genesis formed this year. “We’re trying to make a name for ourselves; so far it’s been going pretty good,” Mendoza said.

According to the group’s website, the drum and bugle corps is designed to “offer the members the chance to interact with the community and develop their leadership skills, travel the country and compete at an unequaled level.”

So far, Genesis has put on three performances for audiences across the country. The group’s next stop is on Saturday in Illinois.

“We work really hard, work on our music, work on visual technique,” conductor Emily Roman said.

The 20-year-old is preparing to enter the Navy, but for this summer, she’s leading a group of world-class performers. She hopes their efforts pay off in August when they’ll compete in Indianapolis.

“It would be nice to have a good score and place really high,” Roman said. “What really matters is that we leave everything we know out on that field and have no regrets with the very last show we have.”

For more information on Genesis Drum and Bugle Corps, visit genesisdbc.org.