They arrived, all 4,000 of them. Band members from twelve high schools from the east, west, and south; as well as the devoted band parents, supporters, and band enthusiasts enjoyed an evening of pure marching band delight. The weather was something you wish for and rarely get; not too hot, not too chilly, dry, clear, and completely uninterrupted by the whistles of any football referees. The 2017 Festival of the Bands, hosted by our own North Royalton High School Marching Band, at the beautiful, state-of-the-art Serpentini Stadium, brought music and magic to the city on September 16. The purpose of the band festival is to strut your stuff and get ready for the tough competition season ahead. Playing for a football game is only a portion of what every single band member at every single school does.
People in the stands don’t realize that there are more than two teams on the field for a football game. The gridiron gangs have their buses, well-padded players, equipment, trainers, coaches, play announcers, and referees. The marching bands have their buses, instruments, musicians, flag and dance corps lines, section leaders, field commanders, and their ever observant and commanding band director and assistants. The bands command the opening anthem and the half-time musical review. While the football season may end with or without a trip to the state playoffs, the marching band season doesn’t end with the last down. NO! Each marching band can continue to work for ratings in the Ohio Music Education Association competitions.
Our North Royalton High School Marching Band has consistently brought home First Place, Superior Ratings from the entire State of Ohio since 1990. That is spirit, drive, enthusiasm, dedication, camaraderie, great young musicians, and band directors that include state recognized “Master Teacher” Band Director David Vitale, and the equally talented assistants, Chris Burdick, and Mike Nary, who was the dot on the ‘I’ in the OSU band script Ohio. As one youngster put it, “It’s great to be part of something that when you put all the pieces together it is way bigger than just yourself. Amazing!” The North Royalton Marching Band has been ‘putting it together’ since June when they began practicing their music. The Band Festival allows them to continually polish and refine every nuance of their performance from the angle of their footsteps to the sharp clear sounds of every note played. Each band member has a stake in winning that Superior rating – one more time.
Guest high schools to this non-competitive event included Lutheran West, Keystone, Field, Padua, Brooklyn, Westlake, Copley, Olmsted Falls, Riverdale, and Brecksville/Broadview Heights. A total of 1,897 students who marched had the opportunity to play an extra song or two in addition to their regular performance because they were given a longer time to play than at a football game. These performances allowed the bands to fine tune their routines as is the case of our Purple and Gold Bears. North Royalton performed the pre-game show and their main theme entitled, “Wishes and Dreams.”
Along with their instruments the musicians brought along their appetites. Route 82 Subway reported one of their busiest days of the entire year as the colorful uniforms of the various band members piled in to order foot-longs and cookies. In other places pizza, burgers and wings were consumed in great quantities by all involved.
The evening concluded with a performance by Tiffin University. All Bands played their way to their buses ending a beautiful evening of music on the march.
By LINDA KWARCIANY
Contributing Writer