The Mathews High School Marching Band is moving up to the big leagues, thanks to a gift from the Gwynn’s Island Civic League Foundation.The foundation has donated a complete on-field sound system to the band, including a digital mixing board, amplifier, cables, microphones, a mic stand, and a set of Harbinger speakers that will help the band in performances and field competitions.Band teacher Mark Givens said the gift will enable him to put a microphone in front of a soloist or a band section that has fewer players than needed and “push that sound out to the audience.”“Traditionally, the trumpet and trombone were the only instruments that could solo with no sound system,” he said. “Now we have the opportunity for other instruments to solo.”GICLF board chairman John Mathiesen said he has attended most of the band’s field shows and had noticed that all the other bands Mathews competed against had PA systems. Sometimes a MHS soloist couldn’t be heard when performing, he said.“It’s like ha...