Guard Is ‘Best In New England’—

NHS Marching Band & Guard Named State Champs

By Eliza Hallabeck

The Newtown High School Marching Band & Guard earned the title of State Champions and the color guard took the title of New England’s Best Guard on Saturday, November 3, during the USBands Championships held at Kennedy Stadium in Bridgeport.

“It was terrific. They did a fantastic job,” NHS Band Director Kurt Eckhardt said, following the event.

The combined NHS Marching Band & Guard won the title of Connecticut State Champions in the Class V Open, and the Color Guard earned the Class V Open division’s caption honors as New England’s Best Guard.

There were 48 bands competing in the USBands Championships, and seven bands competed in the NHS Marching Band & Guard’s division. According to Mr Eckhardt, the NHS Marching Band & Guard finished fourth, by score, in New England overall.

This is the second year the NHS Marching Band & Guard earned the state championship.

Southington’s band came in second on Saturday, and Wethersfield’s band came in third.

“They beat a great band,” said Mr Eckhardt. “Southington is a great band.”

The NHS Marching Band & Guard has one more weekend in its season, but this weekend has two events on the calendar.

“This is such a great band,” Mr Eckhardt said, “and such a special band this year, that we wanted to make sure they end on a great note.”

This Saturday, November 10, the Marching Band & Guard will first be competing in a Musical Arts Conference (MAC) competition at Kennedy Stadium in Bridgeport at 5 pm, then heading to MetLife Stadium in Rutherford, N.J., to take part in a USBands two-day competition with bands participating from around the country.

Tickets for both this Saturday’s Kennedy Stadium competition and the MetLife Stadium competition will be available “at the door,” according to Mr Eckhardt, but he also has tickets available for the MetLife Stadium USBands National competition.

Tickets for the MetLife Stadium competition will be $30 at the door, Mr Eckhardt said, but are $26 if purchased from him. For more information about purchasing a ticket for the MetLife Stadium event, e-mail Mr Eckhardt at eckhardtk@newtown.k12.ct.us.