22 • The Beacon November 28 , 2024
RVHS and RHS bands continue their state tradition
By Josie Sellers For The Beacon
River View and Ridgewood high school marching bands continued their traditions of appearing at state competitions this year .
Marching bands earn their way to state by receiving a one / superior at an OMEA-sanctioned competition during the seven-week contest season . River View received its one during week seven at the New Philadelphia Show . The Marching Black Bears have gone to state for 40 years total and received a two this year .
“ Our show theme was ‘ WILD !’ with ‘ Welcome to the Jungle ,’ ‘ Afro Blue ’ and ‘ Africa ,’” RVHS Band Director Keith Watson said . “ We like using pop music that our audience and fans enjoy .”
The band featured 12 seniors who were spread out through the group .
“ We will miss them a lot ,” Watson said .
One of those seniors is Jaelynn Hall .
“ I will miss the people that are in band ,” she said . “ It is always exciting to go to state because it just means how much work we put into our show .”
RVHS senior Lanie Nickerson is going to miss the sense of community from band .
“ I always knew there was someone I could count on when I was going through a hard time ,” she said .
Nickerson was honored they qualified for state all four years of her marching band career .
“ I felt like I was a part of something bigger than myself ,” she said , “ that the tradition passed from
class to class hadn ’ t been dropped by us .”
Fellow RVHS senior Benjamin Leasure is going to miss the people , the positivity of the group and performing with them .
“ Everyone is so uplifting and supportive ,” he said . “ I love going out there and performing at my peak .”
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Submitted The Marching Black Bears have gone to state for 40 years total and received a two this year .
For Leasure , making state all four years of his career was thrilling .
“ I remember the adrenaline rushing through me ,” he said . “ From the chilly autumn air to the glaring evening sun and the excitement and energy in everyone , it really was an indescribable experience .”
Next for the musical Black Bears is pep band , jazz band and symphonic band rehearsing for the Christmas Concert on Monday , Dec . 16 . Four students also were selected for District 10 honors band on Saturday , Dec . 7 .
Ridgewood received a one at state . They qualified at the River View competition and have been going to state for 34 consecutive years .
“ Our show theme this year was ‘ Requiem for the Night ,’” RHS Band Director John Lindig said . “ It was based on music by Bach , Beethoven , Mozart and Verdi . It was great to bring historic music to the football field and have the audience appreciate how beautiful the music is .”
The five seniors in this year ’ s marching band will be greatly missed .
“ They are all extremely dedicated ,” Lindig said . “ Their talent and leadership will be greatly missed .”
RHS senior Zoey Alan said she has many fond memories of marching band and will miss the people the most .
“ Without them most of those amazing memories wouldn ’ t have happened ,” she said . “ These people have become a family to me , and we have been through so much together . I will miss Friday night games , waking up before the sun to go to competitions and just having fun at practices . I will also miss wearing my uniform that I have worn since day one .”
She encourages next year ’ s marching band members to never give up and keep fighting for their trip to state .
“ No matter how hard and frustrating it gets , do not give up . It may not seem like it ’ s worth it in the beginning ; it is definitely worth it in the end ,” Alan said . “ Have fun . You ’ re in band , and
See BAND on 23
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