From the quirky vibe of Kennett High’s “What If?” to the romantic sounds of Downingtown West’s “Romeo and Juliet: Undead,” a plethora of bands presented the ultimate half-time show to an appreciative crowd at Unionville High’s March on the Brandywine on Friday night.
The musical extravaganza, now in its sixth year, featured the shows of 11 area bands. Organized into divisions based on size, the bands competed in the Cavalcade of Bands, a series of competitions that includes about 100 schools from Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, and Virginia.
Judges, scurrying in between the student performers on the football field, took notes, rating the performances for precision, creativity, musicality, and complexity. For the participating bands, the evening represented an opportunity to win trophies and boost their scores in preparation for the annual championships at the Hersheypark Stadium in November.
For the host school, the event required months of preparation. It also marked an opportunity to raise money through ticket sales and concessions to help fund Unionville’s program.
Unionville High Band Director Scott Litzenberg said the event wouldn’t have happened without parent and student involvement. “You can’t do anything on this scale by yourself,” he said. “A lot of people contributed.”
Litzenberg, who also serves as president of the Cavalcade’s board of directors, spent the evening traversing the grounds around the football stadium on a bicycle. “I’ve learned that this is the only way to get around,” he said. “Otherwise, my legs would give out before the end of the night.”
He estimated that 70 to 80 parents had jobs that ranged from cutting and cooking French fries to assisting with parking. Organizing the volunteers was Sethu Iyer, the band parent who chaired the event.
Iyer said he was relieved that the weather cooperated. “It’s a perfect night for this,” he said of the crisp fall air. Even the winds, which had threatened to wreak havoc with color guard flags earlier in the afternoon, calmed down shortly before the program opened.
Following the other competitors, the Unionville High band presented an exhibition of its show “Mirage,” a musical journey into a desolate, parched landscape that culminates with the discovery of water.
Litzenberg said he’s been pleased with his school’s performance so far this year. “It’s early in the season, but I think we’ll be in the mix,” he said. “It’s been really exciting to watch the kids rehearsing well and playing well. They really seem to get it.”
The other participating bands were Downingtown West and Kennett High in the Patriot division; Eastern York, West Chester East, and Bridgetown High in the Independence division; Sun Valley and East Pennsboro High in the American division; Pottstown and Marple Newtown in the Liberty division.
