PHOTO

 

Grasso Marching Band Festival Set For Oct. 12

Newtown High School’s Blue and Gold Stadium will be filled with the energy of music, marching, and colorful flags flying as ten high school marching bands compete at the Sixth Annual Joseph P. Grasso Festival on Friday, October 12.

Connecticut area bands from Danbury, Bethel, Norwalk, Milford, Monroe and Shelton, as well as bands from New York State, will compete before six judges in the largest show ever hosted by the Newtown High School Marching Band. The event is organized by the band parents’ booster organization.

Newtown High School Band Director James Dumas expects the festival to be entertaining and exciting.

“It’s going to be a very competitive show,” Mr Dumas said. “Arlington (NY), and Norwalk will undoubtedly put on strong performances. All of the bands have been working very hard and they continue to improve each week.”

The judges review each band’s performance in terms of visual and musical effectiveness and analysis. They judge how well each ensemble performs and they judge random individuals from each band.

The marching bands are separated into classes of competition based on their size and can receive a score of up to 100. Newtown’s band with 130 musicians and color guard members regularly competes in Class 5.

The Newtown High School Band will present an exhibition performance of their program, “Jazz – Kenton Style.” The judges will score the Newtown band but their scores will not be included in the competition.

“Guest bands compete for place and trophies,” said Mr Dumas. “As the festival host we will get a score, but it won’t be announced or posted. Still, we strive to improve our scores with each performance.”

 The community is invited to attend the competition, beginning at 6:15 pm. A large contingent of family and friends is anticipated, as has been the case with other area marching band festivals this season. The gates will open at 5:30 pm. The cost is $7 for adults and $5 for seniors and students.