The Fox Chapel Area Marching
Band celebrates their season
with the most new band
members in 10 years.
and saxophone player. Both are seniors this year and four-year
members of the marching band.
The Fox Chapel Area Marching Band performs at all home and
away varsity football games on Friday evenings in the fall. They
also compete in the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Marching Band
Association (PIMBA) marching circuit on Saturdays throughout
September and October, and travel to Orlando, Florida, for a
parade performance every other year at either Disney World or
Universal Studios. On this year’s trip, the band will be marching
in Disney’s Magic Kingdom on December 28.
The Fox Chapel Area High School Music Department is
the proud recipient of an “Exemplary Educational Program
Credential” in music from the Middle States Association. The
music department is the first public school in the country to be
recognized with this honor. Last year the marching band placed
second in Class AA at PIMBA championships.
Also, the Fox Chapel Area School District music program has
been named—for the sixth year in a row—as one of the “Best
Communities for Music Education” by the NAMM Foundation.
“For Fox Chapel Area musicians, the focus on a quality music
education at an early age in our school district has a lot to do with
the level of what we are able to produce at the high school on
both the marching field and concert stage,” says Hertrick. “Many
people don’t realize we have one of the strongest general music
programs in the country.”
The marching band and color guard are open to all Fox Chapel
Area High School students in grades 9 through 12. Students can
join the band in any high school grade.
This year’s halftime show is titled “The World of Our
Imagination” and features “Change the World” by Eric Clapton,
“Pure Imagination” from “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate
Factory,” and “Don’t You Worry ’Bout a Thing” by Stevie Wonder.
The music is selected by the directors and is specifically arranged
for the group by Dan Traugh, a retired band teacher from O’Hara
and Hartwood elementary schools. This year’s show has 75 drill
sets that make up the eight-minute performance, which contains
a great deal of choreography.
The Fox Chapel Area Marching Band has always been a close-
knit community. Many of the students are very good academic
performers and they also mentor the newer band members in
both academics and their music careers. Additionally, the band
helps to provide enthusiasm and spirit as well as entertainment at
the football games and a variety of parades in the communities.
“One of the group’s favorite events is marching in the Memorial
Day parades in Etna, Sharpsburg, Blawnox and Aspinwall,”
says Lesnik. “It’s an honor to help support all those who have
served our country and see our community neighbors at these
functions.”
The Fox Chapel Area Marching Band is a great source of school
pride and spirit, as much as it is intense and hard work, and the
band weaves in many fun activities to counter the long practices.
It’s also a great place for new students to begin adjusting to life at
Fox Chapel Area High School.
For more information about the Fox Chapel Area Marching
Band, contact Daryl Lesnik at Fox Chapel Area High School.
Be sure to check out the Dorseyville Middle School/Fox
Chapel Area High School combined concert on Dec. 7, at
7 p.m. in the high school auditorium, which will highlight
many of the band groups from each school—marching
band, concert band, jazz ensemble and more. This concert
will be free and open to the public.
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