NHS Marching Band & Guard Attend Championship

Despite not having had an opportunity to practice marching together in more than a week thanks to Winter Storm Alfred, despite nearly 40 percent of the 113 members not yet having electricity in their homes restored, and despite needing to perform in not one but two different competitions on the same day, the Newtown High School Marching Band & Guard met all challenges to win the title of State Champion of the United States Scholastic Band Association in the Class V division. Held last Saturday, November 5, at Kennedy Stadium in Bridgeport, the USSBA New England Championships also resulted in the NHS performance of “In Sania,” music from the Broadway Show Jekyll & Hyde, being awarded the caption of “Best Visuals” among the six competing Connecticut high school marching bands.

The NHS Color Guard was also named the Class V’s number one guard in New England, besting all competing high schools, including Dartmouth, the Massachusetts high school that won the New England Class V championships. Newtown ranked second in New England with a score of 93.338, the group’s best of the season season.

Newtown Band Director Kurt Eckhart was ecstatic with his band and guard’s performance, jumping up and pumping his fist at the conclusion of their show.

“The kids wanted it. They really wanted it. They pushed and put it out there,” he said.

On Saturday, November 12, the Newtown High School Marching Band & Guard will again take the field at Kennedy Stadium in Bridgeport for their final performance of the 2011 season for the Class V division of the Musical Arts Conference (MAC). The MAC competition is scheduled to start at 4 pm.