By Esther Kardos
Reporter

    International tours are no longer just for the biggest stars in Hollywood – after all, North’s very own choir will be embarking on one at the beginning of next year. Within the span of ten days, the singing sensation will be touring the cities of Edinburgh, Scotland, and London, England. Between performing both collaboratively with other high schools and individually, they will be staying at three different hotels, visiting the many castles in the area, seeing the local tourist attractions, and witnessing a performance of Miss Saigon in the famous West End Theatre. The members of the choir are, of course, elated to have this opportunity.

    One of the sopranos, Bhavana Ambatipudi, was quick to gush about her excitement. “Honestly, I’m most pumped for picking my roommate and taking an overseas trip on my own.  I’ve been to Europe before, but being independent gives it a new kind of weight.”

    Another member of the choir, tenor Nick Myers, was more passionate about the performances and culture. Though he, too, has previously visited Europe, Myers has high hopes for learning more about choral music within England and Scotland, and he is anxious to see a musical performance so far from Broadway. “It’s such a big deal, I’ve already got a countdown for February going on my phone,” he confessed.

​    Though their date of departure of February 6th might seem far away, the choir is already undergoing intense preparation. They practice both during and after school to perfect their upcoming performances, making sure their notes are crisp and clear. They will be presenting several songs, each showing off a different aspect of North’s musical talent.  With such preparation and talent, it is certain that the European crowds will be nothing short of blown away by North’s choir. We wish the choir good luck in spreading the music.

By Josee Li
Reporter

    When most people think of a band, they imagine flutists, clarinetists, saxophonists, trumpeters, and other musicians seated and playing music. However, for the Council Rock North Marching Band, that is not the case. Rehearsing for more than 7 ½ hours each week and attending football games and competitions each weekend, these musicians don’t make up an ordinary band. According to Rachel Neave, the drum major of the CRN Marching Band, “Being in the marching band requires a lot of multi-tasking. You have to memorize your show, play with extra loud or soft dynamics, and execute everything correctly with your marching technique. It’s both mentally and physically demanding."  
    
    Needless to say, performing the show is easier said than done. That’s why after so many hours of hard work, the Council Rock North Marching Band decided to share the results of their tedious work and their love for music with other bands on October 10th at the 5th annual Council Rock Marching Band Invitational. Present at the invitational were many other schools including Pennridge High School, Neshaminy High School, Montgomery High School, Sterling High School, Central Bucks High School West, Owen J. Roberts High School, and Council Rock High School South.
   
    Members from all eight of the listed bands shouted out compliments and words of good luck as they met new people who also shared their passion for marching band.  The invitational itself was a friendly competition, even though bands were being scored on their performances and were competing against each other for special awards.
   
    Wayne Bishop, the director of the CRN Marching Band, stated, “I think it was a fun event, but also a competitive event. There’s obviously a judging involved with it, but I think everything that marching band entails is fun at its core.”
Cheers from our fellow Council Rock South Marching Band erupted once it was time for the CRN Marching Band to perform. Although being the host of the competition exempted the CRN Marching Band from competing, there were still nerves on the field during the performance.
   
    Kevin Ehrgott, a trumpet soloist, recalled, “It’s exciting to be a key part of the show as a soloist, but there is also the pressure that if you miss a note it will be very embarrassing. So having a solo, in some ways, is both a blessing and a curse. Either way, it is great to have the opportunity to exemplify my skills and represent the band.”
   
    In the end, the key to the successful show was teamwork. “We all work off … everyone else’s success and in that way, we are a team that relies on each other. The group dynamic is so important,” Neave stated.
   
​    After North's performance, the invitational's organizers handed out awards and scores. Bands were not only treated to a thunderous amount of applause, but also received judges’ comments to improve their shows even further.
This invitational would have not been made possible without the CRN Marching Band Parent’s Association. All their hard work along with the support of many parent and student volunteers enabled the invitational to run smoothly and allow guest bands to enjoy the healthy competition.

By Kiara Alvarez
Reporter

   On Sunday, October 25th, 2015, North choir students ventured to New York City to see the new musical Something Rotten, a musical comedy set in South London during the year 1595. It tells the story of a pair of brothers trying to become famous in the theatrical world, constantly finding themselves hindered from success by their more fruitful adversary, William Shakespeare. The show debuted in April and has been extremely successful so far. The event coordinator, North’s very own Mr. Jared Williams, mentioned that he has already seen the show and that “it is a blast.”