The Newtown Percussion and Newtown Winter Guard groups have been busy practicing, in lieu of competing, due to recent weather-related cancellations.

Newtown High School alumnus Sarah Smith is an instructor for Newtown Percussion as well as the director of the Bethel High School color guard. Ms Smith invited Newtown Percussion to perform in exhibition at the Bethel High School Friends and Family Night color guard show on March 8 to help build community interest in beginning a percussion group at Bethel High School.

The following day, the Musical Arts Conference (MAC) competition on March 9 at Shelton High School was Newtown Percussion’s first judged performance of the season. Newtown Percussion earned a score of 83.15 and came in first place out of eight groups in its division. The group’s show, “Look Up,” is about feeling alone, with the moon as the connecting element that brings people together. Dance, visuals, and percussion music combine to tell a story of connectivity.

Winter Percussion’s next challenge will be at the WGI East Power Regional competition at the Pine Belt Arena in Tom’s River, N.J. Preliminaries will be held on March 16, followed by finals on March 17. Approximately 20 groups will compete in the preliminaries in the Scholastic Marching A division.

The Newtown Varsity Color Guard will also be attending the WGI East Power Regional. Its competition will be held at Liberty High School in Bethlehem, Penn., the weekend of March 16 to 17. More than 25 groups in the Scholastic A division are expected to compete.

For more information about winter guard and winter percussion, visit newtownbandandguard.weebly.com.