Marching to a Familiar Tune

by Josh Machado (2016)

For their 2015 competitive season the Wethersfield High School Marching Band isn’t performing what some might call “traditional marching band repertoire”. Rather, their show features the iconic music of Led Zeppelin. Their show, entitled “Zeppelin”, begins with Black Dog, followed by Kashmir, and closes with a song everyone can sing along to; Stairway to Heaven.

“The show this year is really exciting. It’s a lot of fun to perform, and everyone in the band is really enjoying it,” said Maggie Fitzpatrick, a senior clarinet player.

The band begins prepping for their competitive season as early as July. A lot of work goes into coordinating their field show. The band spends over 10 hours a week working to perfect their program in hopes of improving their score and competing at their highest level.

The WHSMB travels to competitions around the state of Connecticut, competing with bands from states all throughout the northeast. The band is judged on different aspects of their performance, including their musical and visual execution. Each group is then given a score based on their performance.

​The Wethersfield High School Marching Band has been competing competitively with bands across all of New England for roughly the past 20 years, according to band director David Dion.

Through the past two decades the WHSMB has continuously set the bar higher, year after year. "I think the repertoire [the band] plays is more challenging [than years past]," said Matt Bronson, percussion instructor and graduate of the WHS marching band.

The band competes every Saturday from late September all the way up to their final, New England States Championship performance on the night of October 31st. Last year WHS came in 4th place, but students have higher hopes this year with “Zeppelin”. 

---