Members of the Bradford Area High School Marching Owls, gearing
up for the Autumn Classic competition to be held Saturday at
Parkway Field, are excited about the new program.
Bradford High School will serve as host and will put on an
exhibition show in this 27th Annual Autumn Classic. The Owls will
perform “Midnight in the Garden of Jazz” at 8:30 p.m., gates open
at 2:30 p.m. with opening ceremonies to begin at 4:30 p.m.
“I can’t wait to do it,” said Shea Miller, a baritone
player.
Christine Feely, who plays clarinet, chimes in, “Because it’s
like our last one.”
Shelley Geitner, also a clarinet player adds, “It’ll be
bittersweet – the Autumn Classic.”
Megan Murphy, tenor saxophone said, “I’m excited! I love this
show!”
All are seniors and talk at once. “It’s one of the best we’ve
ever done!” and “Everyone … (parents and students) stops us and
tell us.”
Marching Owls band director Kathy Thumpston said she met with
James Mauck and his staff from the University of Buffalo (N.Y.) in
January to discuss possible ideas for the show.
Mauck wrote the drill and arranged the music to meet the band’s
needs.
The Marching Owl Boosters brought his group in to help.
The Autumn Classic begins at 4:30 p.m. and songs played by the
Marching Owls will be, “I’ve Got the Music in Me,” Kiki Dee, “Can’t
Help Falling in Love,” by several artists including a version by
Michael Bolton, “Drum Line” which will enable the drumline section
to add special features. “Get It On,” by Bill Chase will end the
Owl’s show.
New to the staff of band advisors are, Chris Amidon from Floyd
C. Fretz Middle School, as drill advisor, Rodney Stebbins, who has
drum and bugle corps experience from Allegany, N.Y., as another
drill advisor, Meghan Lama, a teacher at George G. Blaisdell as
color guard advisor, and J ay Beeman, a Bradford Area High School
alumnus now attending St. Bonaventure University as a physics
major, is helping out with the percussion group.
Beeman, a sophomore, and said he enjoys helping out with the
high school band.
“I study physics and I drum on my own and this is just another
opportunity. I would be playing anyway and there is no better way
to do it than this,” said Beeman Tuesday evening. “It is good
experience.
“I was asked to come back and I took it. What could be better?”
asked Beeman who said he helped through the summer with camp,
sectionals and will be helping through the Autumn Classic.
Beeman is working with Bob Mongillo, a teacher from St. Bernard
Elementary School, on percussion.
Jonathon Brooks is the assistant to director Thumpston. He
teaches band in the Salamanca (N.Y.) school system.
Drum majors are Allison Astor and Mike Tolin and color guard
captains are Katie Neidich and Rebekah Swineford.
“They are doing great, ” said Thumpston of the students
participating. “They are really working hard. It’s a pleasant group
to work with.
“It’s a fun show and they enjoy it. It is a crowd pleaser too,”
she added.
Thumpston said the band has already been involved in two parades
including the Big 30 and the American Refining Group’s 125th
Anniversary parades. The group also had a band camp, sectionals and
competed last week for the first time this season.
The Owls placed fourth out of seven in a Class AAA competition
at the McDowell High School Invitational Band Competition in Erie
Saturday. The percussion section placed first.
As well as performing at all home football games and community
events the Marching Owls will be participating in the Lakeshore
Marching Band Association competition circuit. The band is
considered a member in the Class AAA and will attend competitions
at General McLane, McDowell, Youngsville, Harbor Creek, Corry and
ending the season with championships at Veteran’s Stadium in
Erie.
In the Class A Division, Otto-Eldred High School will compete at
4:45 p.m. followed by Kane High School at 5 p.m. and Seneca High
School of Erie at 5:15 p.m.
In the Class AA Division, Port Allegany Gator Marching Band will
compete at 5:30 p.m., Coudersport High School will compete at 5:45
p.m. with Elk County Catholic High School coming up next at 6 p.m.
Intermission will be at 6:30 p.m. with the Class A and Class AA
Awards to be presented as well.
In Class AAA, Smethport Jr.-Sr. High School will show an
exhibition at 6:45 p.m. with the Cameron County “Red Raider”
Marching Band showing an exhibition at 7 p.m. and Fort LeBoeuf High
School playing at 7:15 p.m.
In the open class division, the McDowell High School Marching
Band and Color Guard from Erie will compete at 7:30 p.m., General
McLane of Edinboro will play at 7:45 p.m. and Iroquois High School
will play at 8 p.m., Harbor Creek High School at 8:15 p.m.; they
are both of Erie. Bradford presents its exhibition at 8:30 p.m. and
at 9 p.m., awards for the Class AAA and the open Class will be
presented.
