The marching season for the Chester County High School Marching band has been in full swing since the middle of July. They began with a two-week-long band camp to learn their music, techniques and drills to perform an amazing halftime and competition show for everyone to enjoy. They performed at football games, home and away, and traveled to four competitions. The title of the show is “Up Above.” The band has roughly 54 band members including instruments, front ensemble and color guard. All color guard this year were new members.
“These girls started from scratch and ended the season with Superior ratings. This is an amazing accomplishment,” said CCHS Band Booster President Angela Jones.
The first competition was held in Union City. Band received the following awards: In Class AA: second place Drum Major, Outstanding Visual Performance, Outstanding General Effect, Outstanding Music Performance and first place band. In Small Division they received Outstanding Visual Performance.
The second competition was held in Huntingdon. The Marching Eagles made finals for the first time in several years.
“I have been with band for seven years and we have not placed in that time,” Jones said.
We placed third in our division. When finals were awarded, the CCHS Marching Eagles placed fifth in our division and eighth overall out of 22 bands, most of which were larger than CCHS.
“Band Masters” in Memphis was their third competition. The kids got to perform at The Liberty Bowl stadium and enjoyed an amazing show band performance from the University of Memphis.
They rounded out their marching season this past Saturday traveling to Stewarts Creek High School in Smyrna, Tennessee.
“It was a horribly windy and rainy day. Immediately going onto the field just prior to playing the first note the bands props were ripped from their frames by high wind gusts. But these kids continued to perform. They did their very best under nasty, relentless weather conditions,” Jones said.
They came home with the following ratings: Drum Major-Superior, Color Guard-Superior, Percussion-Superior, and Overall Band Performance-Excellent.
“We have had an amazing group of parent volunteers that have helped with transporting instruments and props to and from games and competitions. They have assembled and disassembled props for every event in whatever weather was thrown at them. Parents have also provided concessions for every home game. We could not have a program without our volunteers. And we always accept sponsors to help with funding things that we need,” Jones said.
The band has seven seniors that they will be saying goodbye to at the end of the year – Andrew, Luke, Ethan, Dani, Mellony, Xavier and Kylie.
“I pray they take these memories with them wherever life leads,” Jones said. “We also have one senior band member who left this world way too soon. AJ Flatt was a member of the marching eagles when God called him home. AJ’s family was presented his senior banner on senior night. He will always be a Chester County Marching Eagle. Remember to ‘Love Like AJ.’”
“If you haven’t had a chance to catch a performance, please keep and eye out for our Christmas Concert announcement. It’s at Williams Auditorium in December. The date is still to be announced. We will also have a spring concert next year. These kids work hard. Come out and support them in any way you can,” Jones said.
