On September 27, the J.P. Stevens Marching Band held their annual home competition with bands from all across the state coming to compete. With the marching band season hitting its halfway point, this competition is a pivotal moment for many of these bands who are looking to improve on their journeys to the NJ state championships. This friendly competition provides all the bands performing the opportunity to gain new insight on their show with feedback and placements.
In order to prepare for the show, the band recruited and organized volunteers to ensure the night ran smoothly and on time. Volunteers had the option to sell raffle tickets, program journals and magnets, or to serve as band escorts. They were also tasked with making sure visiting bands were in the right place, or as judge runners, delivering food and water to the judges throughout the night. Additionally, the J.P. Stevens Band Parent association volunteered to sell food and snacks along with helping the rest of the bands set up.
“I always choose to be a band escort when volunteering at this event,” said Deepesh Chinta ‘27. “It’s always a fun experience meeting other bands from across the state.”
With the performance of the national anthem by the J.P. Stevens Saxophone Ensemble, the home show began at 5 p.m. as the first band to perform lined up. From here, the night ran smoothly with each band performing one after another. The bands ranged from about 30 members to over 100 members, each competing in their own classes based on size. The judges compiled their scores based on a number of factors including individual music, ensemble music, ensemble visual, and the effect of both the visual and music.
As the final few bands were finishing up their shows, the J.P. Stevens Marching Hawks were getting ready to display their own show in the exhibition “Reign On.” Though not formally a part of the competition, they still put on the best show they could in hopes of receiving constructive feedback from the judges.
“Performing in front of that many people is a surreal experience,” said Keshav Menon ‘28. “As a new marcher, I’m still getting used to that feeling.”
After a notable performance by the marching band, the students who sponsored trophies lined up to hand them to the drum majors of the participating schools. For each class, placement awards were given along with caption awards for best music, best visual, and best general effect. Edison High School ultimately came out on top, winning all caption awards and the overall best band award.
With this event, The J.P. Stevens Band Program was able to earn a profit from all the sales, helping to further support the band’s pursuit of excellence. Overall, the event was a success for all the bands, giving them valuable experience to learn from and carry into future competitions, and as a way for JP to carry on a timeless tradition.