Students at North Harford have seen the school’s marching band’s half time performance, but how about C Milton’s? Aberdeen? Edgewood? The Marching Showcase is where majority of the marching bands in Harford County meet up at Bel Air High School to “showcase” their half time performance.

This is only the third year North Harford’s marching band has performed their marching show at the showcase. Their first year, they performed their Blockbuster show, followed by their 80’s in their second year.  This year they will feature their Elvis Presley Show.

Co-drum major Hillary Young is most looking forward to the entire performance because it’s the first time the band is playing the music memorized and the incorporations [of sets] in the show will prove that the band has improved from last year.

The marching showcase can be an event filled with nerves, even if the showcase isn’t an actual competition. Co-drum major Nichole Livingston is most nervous about handling these nerves from the rest of the band. “As drum major, I don’t have to memorize every set, or particular notes, only the meters, tempo changes and instrumentation.”

Each position in marching performances have their own quirks but one person’s nerves versus the handling of early 70 others is where it becomes difficult, and that is what Livingston is worried about. “I don’t want the band marching onto Bel Air’s field feeling inadequate or like there’s no point in even trying.  We’re individually in charge of our own execution of the show. With confidence in each of us, I know we can present something great and something we can be proud of,” exclaimed Livingston.

The intimidation factor is high for band members as they have an opportunity to see other school bands from around Harford County.   NH sits around 70 members whereas bands such as Patterson Mill and Aberdeen have closer to 100 and C. Milton Wright has about 220 members. Despite this big difference in size, NH is continuing to grow in members and sound. “I think that North Harford has definitely came far from my freshman year,” explained Young. “There are some higher level bands and some lower and North Harford is somewhere in the middle, but is continuing to improve.”

Both Young and Livingston love the concept of the marching showcase. “It’s not like sports where each school practically hate each other and where the only goal is to come out as number one. In the music realm, we all have friends in other programs. When a band is performing at showcase, the audience is quiet, all the bands and parents are respectful and genuinely intrigued and we all congratulate each other in passing once it’s over,” Livingston explained. Young agrees. “I love the concept of it because it’s important that even though bands are judging each other’s performances, we’re all supporting each other. The other bands know how marching band works and are excited by the different elements incorporated in every half time show.”

Though North Harford students have seen the show at the football games, the Showcase is much different than that. At football games, even though majority of the audience are watching the performance, there’s still talking and people aren’t paying their entire attention on the band.   Instead of performing in the evening under stadium lights, the showcase is during the day and on a different turf. “I remember last year, marching on Bel Air’s turf caught me by surprise because their turf is so different compared to ours,” recalled Livingston.

Within the three songs being performed, every band member has the piece they’re most looking forward to, and Viva Las Vegas is Young’s favorite. “It’s not easy with the sets and it has the ability to look cool and has the least amount of room for error,” stated Young. However Livingston is looking most forward to the opener, Can’t Help Falling in Love. “It’s very short- under 50 seconds- but it’s so powerful when played with the emotion required. There are dramatic tempo changes, an intense breakdown within in the drumline, and booming dynamics.”