The Newtown High School Marching Band & Guard took first place in its division at a competition at Norwalk’s Brien McMahon High School on Saturday, September 19.

The Marching Nighthawks band and guard performed this season’s program, “Pharaoh's Legacy,” taking top honors in Best Music and Best Overall Effect.

Competition judges comments described the performance as “well paced” and “well staged.” Judges also remarked that Newtown’s band is “very, very well trained” with “strong percussion” and “a nice brass sound.”

Band director Kurt Eckhardt said that although the band performed well considering it is the beginning of the season, “We have a lot of work to do, getting the rhythm tighter, and we’ve got a lot of visual development to do. We expect more and more as the season progresses, and we will continue to add more visual details.”

The Marching Band & Guard’s next competition is Saturday, September 26, at New Milford High School.

NHS’s home show, the Annual Joseph P. Grasso Music Festival, is set for October 10.