The Newtown High School Marching Band & Guard took its fall trip over the weekend to New Jersey, where it competed in two competitions on Saturday, October 13, and won first place in its division in both events.

The group rehearsed at Pequannock High School, Pompton Plains, N.J., on Saturday morning, before competing at the USBands Yamaha Cup Northeast competition at Rutgers University in the High Point Solutions Stadium. There, the group scored 88.938 for the win in Group IV Open.

Following the Yamaha Cup performance, students got back on the buses, and the parent volunteers of the “Pit Crew” loaded up props and instruments. All participants made their way to Hillsborough High School, Somerset County, N.J., for the evening USBands Gold Showcase competition. The NHS Marching Band & Guard performance of its show “The Climb” earned an 89.775, placing the group first and outscoring three other bands in its division. The band received captions for best visual, overall effect, music, and percussion. In addition, Newtown won the overall award for best drum majors.

On October 14, Band & Guard members enjoyed a performance of the Blue Man Group in New York City before returning home.

The band and guard’s next competition will be on Saturday, October 20, at Southington High School. Approximately 15 bands will compete, along with exhibitions by middle school and college bands.

For more information about the NHS Marching Band & Guard and its events, visit its website, newtownbandandguard.weebly.com.