The Newtown Marching Band & Guard competed in its first show of the 2019 season on Saturday, September 7, at Bethel High School.

The group, comprised of almost 80 members, came in second place with a score of 76.0 in the USBands Group IV Open division. The 2019 show, titled “Life Sentence,” is a portrayal of the feelings and emotions of someone sentenced to life in prison for a crime they did not commit.

Band Director Kurt Eckhardt, Assistant Band Director Chris Carley, Visual Director Ricky Grasso, and more than a dozen other staff members have been working with the band and color guard since June, including a two-week band camp in August, to prepare for the season.

Prior to the competition, band and guard members and their families joined together for lunch at Newtown High School to kick off the start of the season.

This weekend, the Newtown Marching Band & Guard will perform at Newtown High School’s Blue & Gold Stadium, 12 Berkshire Road, on Friday, September 13, during the halftime show of the NHS vs New Milford football game. The group will then compete on Saturday, September 14, at the USBands competition at Brien McMahon High School in Norwalk.

Upcoming events include the annual Joseph P. Grasso Marching Band Festival home show, which is scheduled for Saturday, October 5, and the 100 Family Tag Sale will be held on Saturday, October 19. Donations for the tag sale will be accepted the evening of Friday, October 18.

For more information about the Newtown Marching Band & Color Guard, visit newtownbandandguard.weebly.com.