Once upon a time, marching bands played, well, marches.
Nowadays, squads play everything from Elvis and the Beatles to Nine Inch Nails.
Our annual survey of local high school marching bands indicates that folks who take in a Friday night football game or band competition in the months ahead will hear and see performances of everything from traditional New Orleans jazz to the music of modern classical composers, all performed by students who have sacrificed much of the summer getting their parts right.
West Mifflin Area silks captains Danielle Hasson and Katie Slater are two such performers who've spent many hours practicing their routines.
“We're an amazing band to come see,” Danielle said. “We're getting better as a squad every year.”
The year, the West Mifflin Area band is dipping deep into the Beatles songbook, playing the early hits such as “Yesterday” and later ones such as “Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.” Danielle said she's excited about their performance of “Blackbird” because the silk squad's routine for the song involves rings.
“We pretty much looked at this (‘Blackbird') as a great song to use them on,” Danielle said.
Her co-captain Katie agreed.
“It's worked out very well. The song was slower so we made it a little more dancey,” she said.
The West Mifflin Area band is a non-competitive squad. They'll concentrate their efforts on revving up the crowd at halftime and performing at a few local band shows.
Other high schools will compete on the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Marching Band Association, Tournament of Bands and Bands of America show circuits, spending many weekends on bus trips to schools inside and outside of the region.
Following is a listing of marching band goings-on in the season ahead:
Clairton
With just 15 musicians and 12 “Honey Bear” majorettes, Clairton's band is one of the smallest in the region, and that means some musicians have to pull double duties.
“Almost my entire trumpet section is doubling up,” band director David Geckle said, referring to musicians Garrett Santoline, who is also on the football team, and Courtney McDonald and Lauren Moore, who are majorettes. Geckle noted that Garrett and Courtney both have solos in this year's show.
The band is playing the Latin number “Santana,” “The Cupid Shuffle” and the Earth, Wind & Fire song “In the Stone” from the movie “Drumline.” The squad doesn't play on the competitive circuit but Geckle said the school's state champion football team has kept them busy playing halftime shows through December the past four years.
In addition to games, the band plans to play at Yough High School's band festival and march in several parades.
East Allegheny
Artists who died too soon will be honored in East Allegheny's “Only the Good Die Young” show this season.
Band director Justin Roscoe said his squad of 50 musicians and 20 color guard members will pay tribute to Karen Carpenter, Michael Jackson and John Lennon by playing “We've Only Just Begun,” “ABC” and “Imagine.” Images of the late stars will be presented in the band's staging areas.
Roscoe describes the show as “audience friendly” and says the band will play it on both the PIMBA and TOB circuits. The band's home show is Sept. 22 and trips to McGuffey, Elizabeth Forward and Baldwin band shows are in the plans.
Kristen Psica and Jamie Rosenbayger are drum majors. Lee Kumer is color guard director.
Elizabeth Forward
Drum major Julian Calabro is taking on the role of Elvis impersonator with the Elizabeth Forward band this year. The 65-member marching unit is tackling The King's music with numbers such as “Jailhouse Rock,” “Hound Dog” and “Can't Help Falling in Love,” performed on a 40-foot stage.
Band director Justin Turpin credits committed parents for building the stage and doing much more to make the band program a success. Turpin said 16 other bands are scheduled to play at EF's home show on Oct. 20. The squad is also performing in the TOB circuit.
Other band activities this year include raising funds for a proposed spring trip to New York to perform in the St. Patrick's Day parade.
McKeesport Area
The band will bring “The Soul of New Orleans” to life this year with its so-titled musical tribute to the Crescent City. The band's 58 musicians and 12 color guard members will examine different sides of New Orleans with the Dixieland number “St. Louis Blues” and the soulful “Blues in the Night.” The show closes with “A Closer Walk/I'll Fly Away” performed in a style that mimics a traditional New Orleans funeral, complete with parasols and a decorated coffin.
Band director Karen Cole said she got the idea for the show last year after seeing a video of the funeral proceedings for the great jazz tuba player Kerwin James.
Cole credits band boosters for doing much to make their band camp a success again this year, including serving musicians hot lunches daily. In addition to the regular fund-raising activities, Cole said she plans to approach local businesses about sponsorship opportunities this year.
The band is competing on the TOB circuit and is hosting its home show on Oct 13. The group plans to travel to five competitions this season. Drum majors are Paul Fields and Casey Carriero.
Norwin
Football fans will get a blast of the Queen number “Bohemian Rhapsody” this year while band show audiences will hear the marching unit play its artier “The Road to You” show.
Band director Robert Traugh said the latter performance is a musical depiction of a woman searching for her lost love during World War I. It features the songs “Ghost Train” by Eric Whitacre, “Colonial Song” by Percy Grainger and “Rocky Point Holiday” by Ron Nelson.
Norwin will compete in the PIMBA and Bands of America circuits this year, traveling to many local schools as well as destinations in Akron, Ohio, and Towson, Md. The band's home show is Oct. 6. Traugh said a group of band alumni members are expected to play at that event.
Drum majors this year are Johnny Murray, Brandon Guillot and John Hale. Color guard captains are Courtney Drupie and Ashley Grasse.
Serra
Serra's band will honor the U.S. Marines with its show this year. Numbers to be performed include “The Marines' Hymn,” “Battle Hymn of the Republic” and “Semper Fidelis.” Director Elizabeth Hazlett, in her first year at the school after working for Pittsburgh Public Schools, said she finds the squad of 10 musicians and eight color guard members to be very hard working.
It's also the smallest marching band in the area but that doesn't stop them from competing in the PIMBA circuit nor does it prevent them from deploying some colorful props honoring the Marines and the nation during their show.
A Night at the Races fund-raising event benefiting the band is planned for October.
South Allegheny
Get ready to get funky. South Allegheny's marching unit is playing the George Clinton favorite “Atomic Dog” this year at games and festivals. The squad of 58 musicians and 15 auxiliary members also will tackle radio favorites such as Bruno Mars' “Runaway Baby,” a Nine Inch Nails song, and the American Breed classic “Bend Me, Shake Me.” Director Jessica Humenic said having a show theme isn't really a priority for her; picking songs students will like is important and so far the band likes what it hears.
Junior Stephen Shriane plays jazz guitar on one of the numbers and Humenic said the color guard has a creative routine involving chairs mapped out for one of the songs.
The non-competitive band will host its home festival on Sept. 8 and travel to four other shows, including one at Duquesne University.
The band recently received a $1,500 WalMart Foundation grant through the Local Community Contribution/Hunder Outreach program for instrument repair and maintenance.
Steel Valley
Band director Mike Sisley marks his first year at Steel Valley after serving as assistant band director for East Allegheny for several years.
“It's going to be an exciting season,” Sisley predicted, rolling out a show titled “Pittsburgh Choice Awards.” Henry Mancini's “Pink Panther Theme,” “Won't You Be My Neighbor” from Mister Rogers' Neighborhood and a Gene Kelly tribute are among the songs honoring stars with Pittsburgh ties. A Rusted Root number is also in the mix.
The group of 25 musicians and 13 color guard members will host its home show on Sept. 22, compete on the PIMBA circuit and play in seven other festivals.
This year's drum major, Joe Yano, also plays clarinet. Tenor sax player Amanda Merling is also a featured soloist.
Thomas Jefferson
Band director James Mirabella said TJ's band will rock the crowd this year with rock radio classics “Crazy Train,” “Bohemian Rhapsody” and “Walk this Way.” Though the songs were popularized at least 30 years ago, Mirabella said they are still finding traction with teen musicians.
“A lot of the kids are going back to the old classic rock stuff,” he said. “They're listening to it on their iPods.”
The band has a second show with a super heroes theme featuring title cuts from the Superman, Spiderman and Batman movies and TV shows.
The drum line has been equipped with five new snares, four quad sets and five bass drums, all manufactured by Dynasty. Mirabella said the all-black drums compliment new uniforms that the majorettes are sporting this year.
The squad of 90 musicians, 17 color guards and 18 majorettes does not compete on any circuit but does have trips to West Virginia and Ohio planned as well as a spring trip to Disney World.
West Mifflin Area
Band director Jeff Kesser said the band will perform hits by the Beatles this year, including “I Saw Her Standing There” “Magical Mystery Tour” and “The End.”
“Our goal is to create a fun experience for the children and increase musicianship,” he said.
This year's squad has 110 musicians, 20 majorettes and 28 color guard members. The non-competitive band will travel to shows in South Allegheny and Brentwood this season but is not hosting a home festival.
Key members this year include drum majors Haley Mutch, Casey Squires and Anna Slodnyak; silk captains Katey Slater and Danielle Hasson; and majorette captains Becky Schorr and Maura Anderson.
Eric Slagle is a reporter for Trib Total Media. He can be reached at 412-664-9161, ext. 1966, or eslagle@tribweb.com.
