Written by: Jessica Harding, Schenectady County Reporter email: hardingj@spotlightnews.com
Marching band season has officially begun in Rotterdam.
For two weeks, more than 100 Mohonasen students who are involved with the high school’s field band will participate in an eight-hour per day band camp. The students will learn the entire field routine, including the music and marching formations, which the team will use throughout the season at competitions, local performances and football halftimes.
“Band camp is crucial for what they do throughout the year. This is when they learn the entire field show that they use throughout September and October,” the band’s assistant director Jason Varga said.
Band camp is kind of like double sessions in football. Students come to school at 9 a.m. and work and learn until 8:30 p.m., with only a break for lunch and dinner.
The students involved in Mohonasen’s marching band are also involved in other activities within the school. The band’s director, Keith Bushey, said one year he had a football player in the band and would practice with the band in his football uniform in-between football practices.
This year, 17-year-old senior Alison Castle is working double time as a lead clarinet player in the marching band and a member of the girl’s varsity soccer team.
“Basically my summer is over two weeks early,” Castle said.
She has to work with the marching band while on break from soccer practice, but said she likes to be busy.
Castle has been involved with the marching band since she was in eighth grade. She is now a senior leader, which means she is in charge of her section of the band. Her responsibilities include making sure everyone is in the right spot and knows their music, and she is a role model for the younger musicians.
Castle said her favorite part about the marching band is the competitions. Mohonasen’s marching band will attend five competitions this year including the New York State Field Band Conference’s state championship at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse.
Last year Mohonasen’s marching band took home the Governor’s Cup at the state competition.
Kim LaMora, 17, will also be a senior in September and is a member of the color guard. LaMora said she gets the most excited about competitions.
“Going to the shows is definitely the best part about the band,” LaMora said. “I like the moment before everyone walks in and we are all nervous and excited and feeding off each other’s energy.”
LaMora said she actually looks forward to band camp every year. The students participate in theme days where they dress up in ’80s clothing or all wear tie-dye.
“This is the time when we all grow closer,” said LaMora.
The color guard’s director Lori Marshall is a Mohonasen graduate herself and got her start performing with Mohonasen’s marching band in fifth grade as the team’s equipment manager.
After graduation Marshall performed with Drum Corps International, which is a professional marching band organization before landing a teaching job at Mohonasen and becoming director of the color guard.
The color guard is like the characters of the show, Marshall said. They perform the visual aspect of the music, they spin flags, dance and use props. Varga has been involved with marching since high school. He calls himself a marching band geek and has been teaching music and marching since 1995. Bushey said hiring Varga was a great move for the program because he can show the students what good marching looks like.
Varga said the hardest thing about performing with the marching band is the marching.
“We ask these kids to learn to play their instruments beautifully sitting down then we say ok now run,” he said.
The consensus among the various band directors is that this year’s team has a lot of potential and if the hard work and dedication continue they will do well in competitions.
“The kids who do this love it and you have over 100 kids here who love it,” Varga said.
Mohonasen is the only area school district with a marching band and Bushey attributes that to the community and school district’s support.
“There is great enthusiasm within the school you know, the staff and everyone just bounces off it,” Bushey said.
“The marching band is a great tradition at the school,” Marshall said “Without the community’s support this would not be possible.”
Even among their peers the marching band is respected.
Castle said most of the band members take on a leadership role within the school and so they are well respected.
This year’s seven and a half minute field show is called Construction and paints the picture of a city being built. The community is welcome to watch the band perform at the conclusion of band camp on Thursday, Aug. 30, at 7:30 p.m. at the high school.
‘SOUNDS IN MOTION’ SCHENECTADY — The Mohonasen Central School District’s Music Department will present its 17th annual “Sounds in Motion” field band competition beginning at 6:15 p.m. on Saturday at the Mohonasen football field, 2072 Curry Road. Mohonasen’s marching band will perform their field show titled “Construction.” Schools from Johnstown, Arlington, West Genesee and Kingston will join Mohonasen in the competition. Tickets are $6 at the gate.
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