“It was awesome, there were bands from as far away as Georgia, Texas and North Carolina,” Tim Ward, band vice president said.
After receiving 11th out of 20 in the band’s class, the students said they were ecstatic.
“It was awesome,” band President Don Tucker said. “Everyone thought we were going to be lower, around 13 or 14, so it 11th was great.”
With a disappointing performance the week before at the Northern States Competition, doing well at nationals boosted the band’s morale.
“Finishing 10th out of 13th wasn’t promising, Tim Gallagher, drum line section leader said. “But it made doing well in nationals so much sweeter.”
For the seniors in the band, their performance in Maryland marked the end of their career in high school.
“We knew it was our last so we wanted to give it everything we had,” Boyle said. “There was no next time.”
Preparing since the beginning of the season, Upper Moreland’s show “Metallix” included three songs – “Kingfisher Catch Fire II,” “Fire of Eternal Glory” and “Temper Steel.”
Although not common marching band tunes, the unconventional sounds underscored the band’s talents, band Director Robert Barron said.
“We considered many different avenues and wanted to highlight our strengths,” Barron said. “We used metallic implements such as handbells, propane tanks and objects we found on the street.”
Following their performance, Barron said he couldn’t have asked for more.
“They were magnificent, I was very proud of them,” he said. “It’s more about the journey and the students really started to get it the week before the competition, it was like they just got it.”
Having watched some of the upperclassmen hone their talents and thrive musically throughout their high school career, the director said he thought the invitation was well deserved.
“I was very excited when I heard,” he said. “I thought it would be a great experience for the students.”
The idea that the students’ craft is more of a journey than a trophy was not lost on the young musicians.
“We’re the only band that would be just as happy with first place as we would be with ninth place,” Boyle said. “All that matters is how you feel you did and we did the best that we could.”
When asked what keeps the students motivated for 18 hours of practice per week, their answer was unanimous – the people.
“We’re just one big family here,” Lindsay Barron, color guard section leader and daughter of the director said.
Having worked closely together for the past four years, the band is about much more than music for many of its members.
“When you start high school you think it’s going to be tough, but then you meet the people and become friends with everyone, it’s just comfortable,” Tucker said.
Although the district will not receive an official invitation to the 2009 competition until February, junior Maggie Meade said she is hopeful.
“I think we have a pretty good chance of getting invited again,” she said. “We won’t be focused on placing higher, but playing the best show we can.
©Montgomery Newspapers 2008
<
© 2008 Upper Moreland Music Patrons All Rights Reserved
Willow Grove, PA