JEROME - Young musicians spread endlessly along the Jerry Diehl stage at Jerome High School.

There are flutists, clarinet and saxophone players, percussionists and tuba players, to name a few in the school's Ambush of Tigers marching unit. As they begin playing, color guards in front of the stage begin twirling their flags in sync with the music.

"We've got 99 kids in Ambush this year, up from 40 members from when I started teaching here," said director Gordon Smith. "After Dallas Brass visited us the first time, everything has changed. They transformed this program."

The Texas-based ensemble - which has appeared with symphony orchestras nationwide and performed for two presidents - will be back in Jerome for another joint concert with the students on Monday.

Smith said local folks' perspectives of the high school band's abilities have shifted. The department has always been supported, but now the community expects great musical performances too.

"If we can perform with the Dallas Brass we can do anything," Smith said. "It just opened everyone's eyes as to the capabilities. Now, sky's the limit."

Students and officials with the Jerome district's music program credit the Dallas Brass for helping change the direction of music education at the school. The music department is teeming with anticipation for next week's visit.

"It's amazing that such a small town could get something so big," said freshman Anastasia King, a color guard in Ambush and clarinet player in the symphonic band.

The musicians of Ambush are taking competitions by storm. They've performed and competed in six Western states and are Idaho's reigning District IV marching band champions. The symphonic band received superior ratings - the highest available - at the district Large Ensemble festival this spring, and the school's Pep Band was named best in the state last season by Idahosports.com.

The accolades are earning the district a reputation for innovation, creativity and excellence, Smith said.

Linda Schoepp has long enjoyed Jerome High's music. The students have always performed well, Schoepp said, but over the past couple of years have improved their sound. The band produces more a more unified, tighter sound that impresses the manager of Dunkley Music in Twin Falls.

"In my opinion, they're great," said Schoepp, who hopes to catch the Dallas Brass with Jerome again.

Jerome's young musicians are no longer just band geeks, they're performers accomplishing things, said senior Cody Maltos, who plays quad toms, a set of four tenor drums.

"Having Dallas Brass here changed everything. Before we weren't too big, and now it's a whole new atmosphere. Our status has changed," Maltos said. "I hope having them come again will make us even better. They make you think about music in a whole different way."

In addition to playing alongside student musicians from the high school and middle school, Dallas Brass will give a clinic to students during the day.

"It's way different to play alongside someone with years and years of experience, and it's humbling that they want to share that experience," Maltos said.

The concert, featuring Dallas Brass, Ambush, the school's symphonic band, the high school's Divisi choral ensemble and the middle school's Tiger Band, offers two hours of music including "Star Wars," "The Power And the Dream" and "American Tableau."

"It's amazing that such a small town could get something so big," King said.

She twirled her bright orange flag and threw it into the air. As the last tat-tat-tat punched the air from the percussionists on stage and the musicians sharply put down their instruments, King extended her arm to the sky and secured the pole.

Blair Koch may be reached at 208-316-2607 or blairkoch@gmail.com.