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Music from http://users.adelphia.net/~gsmriley/waband/marching_index.htm
Competing to the beat of a different drummer
High school marching bands do battle at the Tournament of Bands
By Tony Halchak
Citizens' Voice Correspondent
Participants took the field Saturday to compete in the most intense tournament of the year at Lackawanna Stadium.
High school bands from throughout the eastern United States competed in the first day of the Atlantic Coast Championship Tournament of the Bands.
The event, which is broken into bands competing in four different groups throughout two days, is the final and largest tournament of the year.
Bill Lehmkuhl, a member of the National Judges Association, said the trophies the winners recieve are not the biggest reward. "If you win ACC," Lehmkuhl remarked, "you've got bragging rights for years to come."
According to Lehmkuhl, crowds will reach 30,00 between participants and attendees over the two-day span. "We we are Muggs (in Scranton) last night," he said, "and you couldn't get a table."
Saturday's action saw the competition of bands from Groups 2 and 4. Wyoming Area's marching band - part of Group 2 - was ready to compete against 27 other bands, some from as far as North Carolina.
Greg Riley, director of bands at Wyoming Area, explained it was no easy task for the team to get this far. Riley wrote the music for the band's performance in February and the band started practicing basic technique and music in May.
Matt Gaydos, 17, a senior on the team that plays the bari sax, confirmed the hard work.
"We've been putting in 20 to 25 hours a week," Gaydos said.
His teammate Padraic Kenney, 18, agreed, "I'm glad it's over."
Riley took over Wyoming Area's band program four years ago. This year he had high hopes. "This is the first year they've been ranked in the top 20," he explained.
According to Katie Sciandra, 17, another senior on the team, any position would be better than last year's effort in which they placed last. "Anything is an improvement," Sciandra commented.
Elena Eelegrini, 17, the band's conductor, said Riley has become an integral part of the band.
"If Mr. Riley didn't come," Eelegrini said, "it wouldn't be where it is now. We were kind of overwhelmed because we've improved so much."
Riley said one of the keys to the band's success this year is how well the team implemented his five-point rle, which consists of communication, trust, caring, pride, and collective responsibility.
"It's not one person's wrong note, wrong set," he said, explaining his rules. "It's everyone's. It helps with their ego."
Good sportsmanship is another area Riley promotes. "I always encourage them to be good sportsman," he said. "If we win or lose, I always tell them to respect our competition."
Eelegrini said that watching the competition is not always easy. "Sometimes it's a little intimidating," she offered. "Sometimes it builds confidence."
"Especially if you're watching the bad ones," Kenney added.
One thing Gaydos wanted to address was the bad rap many band members receive. "A lot of the things are brought on by themselves," Gaydos said. "Bank kids are weird," he added jokingly. "We're wearing sequins."
Gaydos soon became serious and added, "Dont bust it until you try it. It's what we like to do, let us do it."
Out of 27 bands, Wyoming Area placed 10th with a score of 89.6. First place went to Middle Township, N.J., with a score of 96.6. Two teams tied for second with 95.9 points, Pocono Mt. West and Susquehanna Twp.
Just something I wanted to share for some random reason. It's the entirety of a newspaper article I found lying around my bedroom. Typed as written, including the bastardization of Elena's name. Heh.
Make of it what you will.
EDIT: I'm a moron. I posted the tob-info site with the wrong suffix. The proper URL is http://www.tob-info.net . And it seems they've added us. 30th place ... heh.
Competing to the beat of a different drummer
High school marching bands do battle at the Tournament of Bands
By Tony Halchak
Citizens' Voice Correspondent
Participants took the field Saturday to compete in the most intense tournament of the year at Lackawanna Stadium.
High school bands from throughout the eastern United States competed in the first day of the Atlantic Coast Championship Tournament of the Bands.
The event, which is broken into bands competing in four different groups throughout two days, is the final and largest tournament of the year.
Bill Lehmkuhl, a member of the National Judges Association, said the trophies the winners recieve are not the biggest reward. "If you win ACC," Lehmkuhl remarked, "you've got bragging rights for years to come."
According to Lehmkuhl, crowds will reach 30,00 between participants and attendees over the two-day span. "We we are Muggs (in Scranton) last night," he said, "and you couldn't get a table."
Saturday's action saw the competition of bands from Groups 2 and 4. Wyoming Area's marching band - part of Group 2 - was ready to compete against 27 other bands, some from as far as North Carolina.
Greg Riley, director of bands at Wyoming Area, explained it was no easy task for the team to get this far. Riley wrote the music for the band's performance in February and the band started practicing basic technique and music in May.
Matt Gaydos, 17, a senior on the team that plays the bari sax, confirmed the hard work.
"We've been putting in 20 to 25 hours a week," Gaydos said.
His teammate Padraic Kenney, 18, agreed, "I'm glad it's over."
Riley took over Wyoming Area's band program four years ago. This year he had high hopes. "This is the first year they've been ranked in the top 20," he explained.
According to Katie Sciandra, 17, another senior on the team, any position would be better than last year's effort in which they placed last. "Anything is an improvement," Sciandra commented.
Elena Eelegrini, 17, the band's conductor, said Riley has become an integral part of the band.
"If Mr. Riley didn't come," Eelegrini said, "it wouldn't be where it is now. We were kind of overwhelmed because we've improved so much."
Riley said one of the keys to the band's success this year is how well the team implemented his five-point rle, which consists of communication, trust, caring, pride, and collective responsibility.
"It's not one person's wrong note, wrong set," he said, explaining his rules. "It's everyone's. It helps with their ego."
Good sportsmanship is another area Riley promotes. "I always encourage them to be good sportsman," he said. "If we win or lose, I always tell them to respect our competition."
Eelegrini said that watching the competition is not always easy. "Sometimes it's a little intimidating," she offered. "Sometimes it builds confidence."
"Especially if you're watching the bad ones," Kenney added.
One thing Gaydos wanted to address was the bad rap many band members receive. "A lot of the things are brought on by themselves," Gaydos said. "Bank kids are weird," he added jokingly. "We're wearing sequins."
Gaydos soon became serious and added, "Dont bust it until you try it. It's what we like to do, let us do it."
Out of 27 bands, Wyoming Area placed 10th with a score of 89.6. First place went to Middle Township, N.J., with a score of 96.6. Two teams tied for second with 95.9 points, Pocono Mt. West and Susquehanna Twp.
Just something I wanted to share for some random reason. It's the entirety of a newspaper article I found lying around my bedroom. Typed as written, including the bastardization of Elena's name. Heh.
Make of it what you will.
EDIT: I'm a moron. I posted the tob-info site with the wrong suffix. The proper URL is http://www.tob-info.net . And it seems they've added us. 30th place ... heh.