The Allentown High School Redbird Marching Band has concluded the 2018 fall season with first place finishes in all of its local competitions and a victory in the state championships.
Band director Ross Hecht said the marching band is comprised of students in grades nine through 12 and includes brass and woodwind instruments, marching percussion, a color guard and a front ensemble. The students performed at all of the Redbirds’ home football games.
“During football games, in addition to our show, the band plays current pop tunes as well as some classics to entertain the crowd and energize the team,” Hecht said. “The students enjoy their performances at games just as much as they enjoy the competitions.”
Through September and October, the band competed in USBands events at Edison High School, Brick Memorial High School, Robbinsville High School, Woodbridge High School and Monroe Township High School. Band members placed first in all five competitions and won several awards, including Best Music, Best Visual, Best Overall Effect and Best Percussion, according to Hecht.
Following those competitions, the marching band participated in the state championships at Old Bridge High School on Oct. 28 and the regional championships in Allentown, Pa., on Nov. 4. At the state championships, the Allentown students competed against 13 other bands in their group and ultimately won the title.
“Winning the state championship is a huge accomplishment for the band and capped off an amazing season,” Hecht said. “They haven’t seen a state championship win in many years and they compete against some excellent bands. The band members were honored and excited to take home the first place trophy.
“I could not be more proud of what this band pushes to do each and every day,” he continued. “They work six, sometimes seven days a week at all hours of the day and night to be the best version of themselves. I couldn’t be happier to see their hard work rewarded.
“The support of the school community, school district and administration has also been amazing to see. On the way home from our state championship, the local emergency services units escorted the band’s buses through Allentown. It was truly an honor for each student,” Hecht said.
“Extraordinary,” which was the name of the band’s show, “depicted everything extraordinary, from the amazing talents of our students – including tap dancing, amazing student soloists, gymnastics, a difficult percussion feature, and a solo color guard performance – all the way to the extraordinary feats of mankind, including the innovations and technologies over the past 100 years,” Hecht said. “The students and staff had a great time putting the production together and were proud to perform their show each weekend.”
