The Harford Classic Marching Band competition took place at Bel Air High School on October 5 – a competition that included eleven schools from across the entire state. North Harford’s Marching Hawks took first among these schools with a score of 79.3, winning first in their first competition in 23 years.
Sophomore Maddie Newton, a percussionist of six years, explains that the marching band had started preparing for the competition during band camp, which took place in July and August. While the band received their music at the end of last year, the actual drill was something the band “struggled” with, according to Newton, because they “didn’t practice outside on actual turf until two games into the season. Most of what we did was inside, and we didn’t even have [the third part] clean enough to perform at the first game.”
Along with this, junior Ava Sealy, a flute player of eight years, adds that, “The challenging thing in preparing was the weather because it didn’t always permit us to practice marching and visuals outside. It took us all the time we had to prepare to play our best.”
Despite this, the competition was still enjoyable for the group. Newton adds that she “always like[s] going to showcase and band events because it gives us the chance to see other artists and groups that go through the same thing as us.” Along with Newton, senior Liliana McGraw, a clarinet player of eight years, adds that she would have liked, “to watch a few more bands perform. We got to see a few other schools’ shows though, and it’s always interesting to see what they’ve worked on!”
The band performed the song “Agent 54” by Randall Standridge. “Written in classic “spy jazz” style, this achievable yet effective show casts a web of mystery and espionage,” says JW Pepper. McGraw adds, “Now that school has started, most of our rehearsals happen during band class. Because there are three class sections for band (one for percussion and two for the wind instruments), it makes marching the field show more difficult to practice, since we’re always missing a portion of the group. We also had a few after school rehearsals to practice as a full group leading up to our performances.”
Speaking of her experience in marching band, Newton says that, “I enjoy playing my instrument, but I also love the group of people in the band. All of which are accommodating and understanding. Marching band may not be for everyone but those who do join and enjoy it will build bonds that last for a long time. It’s also just helpful to have people you know and trust. We all share some kind of mutual respect for each other and what we do.”
McGraw also adds that, “My favorite thing about marching band is the feeling when we finish the halftime show at each game. I love how all of our hard work pays off to make such a cool show each year, and it’s a lot of fun being a part of the show.” She finishes saying, “For people considering joining band, marching band is a great way to make connections. During band camp we get to know each other and have a lot of fun as a group. By the end of the season, the band feels like a family. So if people are looking to be a part of a group that’s a lot of fun to be around, marching band is a great option for them!”
