BY ANALISE SAINVIL
The Marching Band has carried a wave of momentum through their fall season, taking first place at competitions in Edison, Monroe, and Hillsborough while earning top honors in music, visual performance, and overall effect.
The team’s success early in the season inspired even more focus at rehearsals. “Placing first was extremely rewarding and motivated us to keep working at getting better,” said senior Sophia Pavon.
Hours of commitment fueled each performance, with the band rehearsing multiple days a week and perfecting every formation, flag toss, and note before taking the field. “We practiced for hours every week, ensuring that our marching, playing, and props looked the best they could.” said Isaac Choi
The group’s first big test came at Edison, where their sharp formations and bold sound captured first place, setting the tone for the rest of the season. “All our rehearsals add up by fixing small issues and redesigning the show as needed, so it can excel at competitions like Edison,” stated Manvir Singh
That opening victory gave the team a jolt of confidence heading into tougher shows, proving that hard work pays off. “It felt so rewarding after all the hard work, and the score gave us motivation to get an even better one next time,” said Heather Boelhower.
After Edison, the Marching Band continued to evolve, refining visuals, adjusting musical phrasing, and adding new elements to make their performance stand out. “We enhanced our show with new visuals and cleaned up our drill and playing,” said Pavon, noting that the team’s score jumped from a 72 at Edison to an 86 at their home show.
At Monroe, the Marching Band delivered another winning routine, taking awards for Best Music, Best Visual, and Best Overall Effect among Group A bands, even tying for the top visual score among all nine other schools. “It felt great winning first at the Monroe competition, with it being our first competition with the full show,” said Singh.
The field production, titled “Paint It Black,” uses music from The Rolling Stones and follows a visual journey. “It starts bright and colorful but slowly fades to black as the music turns more intense,” explained Charlotte Hage, a member of the color guard.
While the piece centers on performance and emotion rather than symbolism, its dynamic contrasts and storytelling captivated the judges across all three competitions. “It’s based on the Rolling Stones song, and that’s the main music in our show,” said Hage
Despite the team shrinking from 51 members last year to just 34 this season, the Marching Band has continued to thrive. “Even with a smaller band, we’re reaching high levels of performance this season,” said Pavon.
Team captains and section leaders have played a key role in maintaining focus and energy before each competition. “I keep everyone motivated by reminding them that the amount of effort they bring to rehearsal will match the energy and execution during competition performances,” said Singh.
Beyond the victories, the band’s strong sense of community has fueled its success and kept spirits high. “I think the overall environment has improved since last season,” said Hage, adding that the group feels more connected and confident than ever.
Looking ahead, the Marching Band will compete at USBands States in Robbinsville on November 1, NJMBDA States at TCNJ on November 2, and USBands Nationals in Allentown, Pennsylvania on November 8. The team hopes to end their season as strongly as they began it. “Right now, we’re one of the top scorers in our group, and we’re hoping to place top three at every competition,” Hage stated.
Posted on 10/30/25
Photos by Analise Sainvil
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