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Marching bands wow crowds with precision , skill continued
“ They go up on their heel , push with the heel and roll through ,” Ebert said . “ It keeps their upper body from bouncing up and down with the instruments in their mouths . Otherwise , their instruments would bounce around all over their face and could bust their lips . It ’ s aesthetically pleasing when they all do it the same way and it ’ s for safety reasons .”
Marching in the hot sun for hours can take a toll on a student , but luckily there are band moms .
Tara O ’ Donoghue has been a band mom for seven years , as her son marched for four years , and now her daughter , Aley O ’ Donoghue , a junior at Porter Ridge High School , continues that tradition .
“ The thing I love about band – it teaches them such discipline and such strength ,” O ’ Donoghue said . “ They get that feeling of accomplishment . The first day , how it sounds when they first start learning , then by the end of September or October , it ’ s amazing .”
There ’ s a common thread that all band members seem to have – the feeling of being in a band family .
“ No one in your class changes unless someone leaves , so you get to know everybody and you become a little family . Everyone knows each other and it ’ s really nice ,” said Isa Dieguez , a Porter Ridge High School freshman , who plays the alto saxophone . “ You become like best friends with pretty much everyone and you get to hang out with them all the time .”
Jeremy Mace , a Porter Ridge High School senior , plays the mellophone . He hopes to major in music in college . “ I like being able to play music in high school ; to keep growing with the people you ’ ve been with since middle school . It ’ s just fun to be able to make good music .”
James Szczepkowski , a Cuthbertson High School senior , has been in marching band since his freshmen year . He ’ s a drum major , the person responsible for directing the band ’ s playlist .
“ I really enjoy being around the people ,” Szczepkowski said . “ It ’ s the camaraderie . I ’ ve made a lot of really good friends here and when I have to say goodbye , it will be really sad , but I ’ m sure I ’ ll keep in contact with them . The people here are awesome .”
All the hard work has really paid off for CHS ’ marching band . They ’ ve been invited to perform on Dec . 7 at the mass band performance during the 75th Commemoration of the attack on Pearl Harbor . The music will be composed by world-renowned Robert W . Smith , known for his work with Warner Bros . Publications .
CHS students will perform with Japanese marching band students . “ It ’ s a huge event , with hundreds of students ,” Ebert said . “ There are about 70 CHS students who will be going , all paying their own expenses . It ’ s a high-profile trip , but it ’ s also an expensive trip . We ’ ll actually be performing at the battleship .”
The band has been holding fund-raisers for more than a year in preparation for the trip and continues to work toward raising funds to help offset the cost . — This article was provided by the Union County Public Schools Communications Office .
Porter Ridge High School marching band members demonstrate core-style marching , a rigid stance that gives the illusion of gliding across the field .
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Parent Teacher News • Nov / Dec 2016 • 11