North Hosts Marching Band Invitational

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.

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