Education

NHS Marching Band & Guard And Its Pit Crew Are Preparing For A November 3 Competition

Published: Nov 02, 2018 07:00 AM

The Newtown High School Marching Band & Color Guard is preparing for a November 3 USBands New England Regional Championship competition at Danbury High School. Groups from Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and New Jersey will be competing at the event.

The NHS band and guard was expected to participated in an October 27 USBands New England States Championships competition, but it was rescheduled due to the rain. The NHS Marching Band & Color Guard’s staff decided to withdraw from the rescheduled date.

When the NHS band and guard competes at the November 3 event, the Newtown Pit Crew will be managing the logistics, as it always does.

The crew is responsible for nine sets of props, along with the loading and unloading of a truck full of guard equipment, such as flags and sabers; speakers; rolling tables; and instruments, including marimbas, keyboards, vibes, drums, brass, and woodwinds. Each week, it takes approximately 20 parents to fulfill these tasks. Those who track such things regularly record 15,000 steps on show days and almost 25,000 steps for a double show.

The pit crew designed, built, and painted this season’s props, which include nine sets of 8-foot, fully functional steps and platforms for “The Climb” — this year’s band and guard show. The three sides of the props are used to tell the story within the show.

Each week, these sides must be attached and then removed and stored for the next week. Steve Schmid was the lead design engineer on this season’s prop building, assisted by pit crew chief Todd Keeping and a crew of dedicated parents.

The NHS Marching Band & Color Guard is preparing for its winter seasons.

Winter Percussion auditions and parent meeting will be held on November 19, at 5:45 pm, in NHS band room. Interested students in grades seventh to twelfth and their parents should attend. Winter guard’s auditions have yet to be scheduled. Email info@nhsbandguard.com for more information about auditions.

For more information about the marching band and guard and its events, visit newtownbandandguard.weebly.com.

Some of the NHS Marching Band & Guard pit crew members stand together in front of the group’ truck. From left are Mark Farrington, Charlie Calderbank, Chuck Taylor, Jeff Timmons, pit crew chief Todd Keeping, Andrew Paley, Bob Fossum, and Steve Schmid. —Laura Taylor photos

Some of the NHS Marching Band & Guard pit crew members stand together recently. Pictured from left are Kelly Hochstetler, Kim Farrington, Lisa Keeping, Wendy Merrick, Doreen Via, Angela Brown, Alenda Calderbank, Bonnie Voegeli, and Laura Taylor.

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NHS Marching Band & Guard And Its Pit Crew Are Preparing For A November 3 Competition

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