Drumline
This is Fair Lawn's third season competing in the winter guard and percussion programs, which were launched by the USBands (formerly known as the USSBA) marching band circuit in 2009. The color guard circuit consists of the color guard portion of the fall marching band, while the percussion circuit consists of the drumline and front ensemble portions of the fall marching band.
Under the direction of Jamie Szeinberg, the percussion ensemble will also be competing on Sat., March 3, at a Winter Guard International (WGI) show at Trumbull High School, 72 Strobel Road in Trumbull, Conn. WGI is the number one regional, national and international competition circuit for indoor guard and percussion and has included groups from Japan, Holland, Canada, and other countries in previous years. It is the most competitive of the three national indoor percussion and color guard competition (divisions) groups.
"The Winter Guard International brings together many talented groups from across the region," stated Szeinberg. "Our percussion and color guard members are always excited to see what bands from other states come up with."
FLHS To Host Second Annual Home Competition
For the second consecutive year, FLHS will host one of the season's key competitions, on Sat., March 17 from 1 to 4 p.m. The competition will feature 11 groups from New Jersey and New York. This event also will be the first performance ever by a newly-formed junior varsity percussion ensemble made up of high school and middle school students from Fair Lawn.
The rest of the competition schedule includes performances on Sat., March 10 at Pequannock High School, 85 Sunset Road in Pompton Plains, N.J.; Sat., March 31 at Old Bridge High School, 4209 Route 516 in Old Bridge, N.J., which will include only the percussion ensemble; and the Championship Finals on Sat., April 14 at Sun National Bank Arena in Trenton.
Award Winning Marching Band
In the fall of 2011, the Fair Lawn High School Marching Band percussion won top honors for the second consecutive year. The band earned a fifth place finish, competing against 20 ensembles in Group IV Open National Competition. "Many of the percussion members are competing this winter and we are very excited about our show, entitled ‘It's About Time,'" Szeinberg added.
During the past decade, the Fair Lawn High School Marching Band, under the direction of Paul Kafer, has achieved 10 consecutive national Top 13 finishes along with six straight invitations to the U.S. National Marching Band Championships. Recognized as one of Fair Lawn High School's most outstanding opportunities for students, the group also is a six-time USSBA national or group champion in percussion and also a National Bronze Medalist as a band at the first-ever USSBA championship in 2006 and the Group II Class A champion in 2002.
PHOTO CAPTION: Members of the award-winning marching band warm up at recent competition. The drumline and members of the color guard will be performing in numerous indoor percussion events in the coming weeks.
Photo:
http://www.prlog.org/
