Stepping Off with Mr. Bud: Marching Band Festival Season

What a week for high school marching bands from the Shore!

First, this past Tuesday at Detwiler stadium, on the campus of Toms River South, marching bands from the All-Shore area strutted their stuff to a standing room only crowd. Bands from Long Branch, Middletown North, Monmouth Regional, Ocean Township, Shore Regional, Toms River East, Toms River North, Toms River South all participated in a fantastic display of music and color.

The evening started off with Toms River South playing the National Anthem, conducted by Director: Nicole Delnero. What was amazing to see, was the entire Toms River North Band held their right hands over their heart, in salute to our great nation.

Some of the music that was performed this evening included: “License to Thrill” by Middletown North, which was a tribute to all of music of James Bond. Their drill formations included even making a 007 on the field. Director Beth Lyons stated, we have a great group of students this year, and they really enjoyed performing James Bond.

Toms River North took you thru the constellations of the night sky, and Ocean Township Spartan Band saluted Frankie Vali and the Four Seasons, by performing:”Can’t Take My Eyes Off You, Big Girls Don’t Cry, and Walk Like a Man. It was a great night for everyone who attended, and i can not wait until next year’s All Shore Band Festival.

At the end of the evening, All Shore Band President, Jose Maunez of Manalapan high school, passed out awards to all of the participants of the evening.

On Saturday October 22, at Rutgers University 67 High School Bands competed in the US Bands Marching Band Circuit on a windy and wet day in New Brunswick.

The Jackson Liberty Lion Band continued with an impressive score of 88.925, which was the top score of all Monmouth and Ocean county marching bands. Adjudicator Judy Ulchinski stated, “This is by far, the best quality Jackson Liberty Lion Band she has even seen. Congrats to Mr. Scott Katona and the rest of the Lions."

Jackson Memorial scored their highest score of the season with an 88.125 and are vastly improved. They actually jumped 6 points from the week before, and they are working hard, as they prepare for the National Championships in Allentown, Pa, in 2 weeks. Band student: Vito Licciardi stated, that “we are planning on peaking at Nationals.” Good Luck Jaguar Band, we hope you succeed.

Point Pleasant Boro, and their show of “OZ” which included music from “The Wiz”, “Wicked” and “The Wizard of Oz.” placed 4th with a score of 88.700. Talk about an amazing performance. Director: Scott Visco had these kids prepared. They were absolutely out of this world.

On Sunday, October 23rd, 2016 at Rowan University, 40 more marching bands competed throughout the day, from 9:00am until 9:00pm in the evening.

How close can marching band score be? Just asked Long Branch and Toms River East.
In group IIIA, the Long Branch Green Wave marching band knocked off Toms River East Raider marching band by just 1 tenth. 87.975 to 87.875

Bands are evaluated on Music Performance, Visual Performance, General Effect, Percussion and Color Guard, and just 1 mistake, can put 1 band higher than the next. It is not like sports, because in marching band, every student on the field adds or subtracts to the final outcome of the score.

Every person, student, band parent who is moving equipment, is just as important to that final score.

In group IA Shore Regional, placed 5th with a score of 79.463

Howell, Manalapan, Middletown South, Lacey Township marching bands also competed this weekend and all came home with trophies and plaques respectively.

In next week’s “Stepping Out with Mr. Bud”, we will see if the Toms River North Mighty Mariners can continue their dominance in the Tournament of Bands marching Band circuit, and we will be following and updating the National Championship Marching Band results.

NEXT: Jackson Memorial Students Reflect on Band Director Bud McCormick