ICYMI: Great Showing for Ridge Marching Band at MetLife Stadium

By Nola Hansen

The Ridge High School Marching Band brought home the 3rd Place trophy from their very first competition of the season at the New Jersey State Championship Yamaha Cup in the Group III-A Open Class at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ on Saturday, Sept. 26.

A total of 17 bands competed in event, hosted by the Youth Education in the Arts (YEA) US Bands Division. Eight competed with Ridge in their division, including one, Saint Joseph Secondary School, from Malaysia, which took home top honors in the International division. The top three scores following Saint Joseph reflected a slim 1.5 point margin, with 1st and 2nd place awarded to East Brunswick High School and Kittatinny Regional High School, respectively.

Band Director Dan Zugale remarked Saturday, “I was extremely impressed with how well the band performed right out of the gate. We don’t normally play at such a huge venue for our first competition, and the band rose to the occasion and performed with confidence.”

Following their performance, band members and their families were treated to a tailgate spread by the Ridge High School Band Association in the MetLife parking lot.

The 76-member Ridge Marching Band’s 2015 performance show “Ridge In the City,” features the songs “New York State of Mind” by Billy Joel, “Rhapsody in Blue” by George Gershwin, “George Washington Bridge” by William Schuman, “Birdland” by Josef Zawinul and “Empire State of Mind” by Alicia Keys and Jay Z. Mr. Zugale, in his seventh year as Director of Bands at Ridge High School, is assisted by other coaching staff members including Assistant Band Director Paul Campbell, Color Guard Captain Head and Drill Designer George Mattis, Color Guard Instructor Kasey Zampella, Music Arranger Dennis Argul, Percussion Captain Head Joe Keefe, and Percussion Instructor Tom Wang. Senior Joseph Criscione and Juniors Devon McKeon and Kyle Feigenwinter lead the band as Drum Majors.

While Ridge Marching Band performs at halftime at all home football games, they will also perform at other competitions at Somerville High School on Saturday, Oct. 10, at Vernon Township High School on Saturday, Oct. 17 and in the New Jersey State Championships at Union High School on Saturday, Oct. 31. The Band is proud to host its 6th annual home competition on Saturday, Oct. 24.

Additional information about the band can be obtained from its website: www.RidgeMarchingBand.com