As the BHS marching band students stepped in time to the music and directions of assistant director Chris Amidon on Parkway Field, none appeared to be tired of learning the marching basics.
For band members, the chance to get out and perform on the field again is something to look forward to after last year’s sporadic practices, competitions and performances, as well as cancellations due to the pandemic.
Marissa Golden, band director, said the group of 65 marching band members will perform for the community at Parkway Field behind Bradford Area High School at 7 p.m. Aug. 13 and all are welcome to visit and enjoy the half-hour preview show.
“Everything is looking up for this year,” Golden said during the practice. As the students kept up their steady drill on the field, Golden said they have to learn to march “forward, backwards and side to side in a cohesive block — and play instruments at the same time.
“It’s an even mix of boys and girls and we have a lot of new members in both eighth and ninth grade doing this,” Golden shared.
She noted that well before school ended in the spring, the directors started planning for the band’s show in January. In addition, auditions are held in April for various positions including drum majors, color guard and percussion.
“We have our orientation day in May and our first mini-camp in June,” she continued. “It’s all a big lead-up to this (two week) band camp.”
The camp requires students to be on-hand from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. the first week, and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. the second week. Free lunch in the cafeteria, provided by the summer lunch program, is also offered to band members. Golden said many of the band members juggle the two-week camp with work, watching siblings and participating in practice for sports teams.
“A lot of them are pulling double-duty … It’s a big commitment and they know that,” Golden said of the band members. “We learn our whole show in these two weeks, and they’ll spend the next couple of months refining that and adding visuals to make it more interesting.”
This year’s production, titled “Illusions,” will feature a few magical surprises. Shawn Wilt and Lacey Rodgers, who will both be juniors, will serve as drum majors. New to the team are Amanda Troisi and Emily Frederick as Color Guard advisors.
“I’m enjoying this so much, this is my favorite place to be right now,” said Wilt, who will conduct the show. “We will be traveling this year … I only got to travel in my freshman year and COVID took away my sophomore year.”
Rodgers, who will serve as the illusionist in the upcoming show, said she, too, expects to enjoy the production as she and Wilt will get to “have a fun uniform.”
The songs that will be played by the band will include “Dance Macabre,” Gymnopedie” and the theme melody from the “Psycho” movie.
In conclusion, Amidon added, “We have a wonderful new group of students from Fretz (middle school) to join the veterans. Everyone is doing a great job.”
Additionally, he said “the students and staff are ready to put together their big show and participate in the Lake Shore Marching Band festivals through the fall.”
On a final note, Autumn Classic, Bradford’s home show, will be performed Sept. 25, at Parkway Field.
