Marching Band Competition Begins Soon

The Newtown High School Nighthawks Marching Band and Color Guard began in July preparing for another successful season. The rigorous program called for practices twice a week in July and August leading up to Band Camp during the weeks of August 15 through August 24.

The 90-member group composed of 74 band members and 16 color guard members will kick off the season marching in the Newtown Labor Day Parade on September 3. The season’s regular competitions begin on September 8 at Danbury High School. The band and color guard perform at all NHS home football games.

The Nighthawks Marching Band is under the direction of Kurt Eckhardt. Assisting him are Bob Findley, head drill writer, head drill instructor; Phil Waselik, assistant drill and music instructor; Richard Lake, head percussion instructor; Erik Jurman, assistant percussion instructor; Robert Ondek, head pit instructor.

Nighthawks Color Guard director is Helen Woods, head color guard instructor and color guard drill writer. Cathy Brauer and Alissa Belcher are assistant color guard instructors.

Drum majors this year are seniors Erin Mukwaya and Will Harrison. Students leaders include Ben Spiegel, brass captain; Claire Ober, woodwind captain; and Alyssa Krueger, Carra Buckley, Kristen Fetchik, Color Guard captains.

Section leaders are Lauren Morrissey, flutes; Jen Tichon, clarinets; Mike Testa and Nico Bonvini, saxaphones and mellophones; Dave Manville and Ali Rambone, drum line; Jen Spanedda, trumpets; Traci Tamarkin, percussion pit; and Cassandra David and Max Baudisch, low brass and woodwinds.

The program this season is called “Reflections.” The group will perform “Reflections of Form,” “Reflections of Sound,” and “Reflections of Light,” by Richard Saucedo.

Performance Schedule

September 8, MAC Competition, Danbury HS

September 15, MAC Competition, New Milford HS

September 28, Home Football Game

September 29, MAC Competition, Trumbull HS

October 5, Home Football Game

October 6, Grasso Festival, Home Show Newtown HS

October 13, MAC Competition, Bethel HS

October 19, Home Football Game

October 20, MAC Competition, Jonathan Law HS

October 28, MAC Competition, Naugatuck HS

November 3, MAC Competition, Norwalk HS

November 9, Home Football Game

November 10, Mac Championships at Kennedy Stadium, Bridgeport

November 16–18, USSBA National Championships in Baltimore, Md.