Top Tournament Win For Hazlet's Raritan H.S. Marching Band

HAZLET, NJ — Raritan High School Marching Band won the Tournament of Bands state championship in its class on Saturday in Toms River, and the band members were greeted with cheers on their return.

“These young people bring out the excitement in our community, and I am so impressed how they exceed all my expectations,” said Band Director Raymond Lahaye.

The accolades will continue on Tuesday night, when the band is honored by the Township Committee at its meeting.

Lahaye said the band had won previous regional championships, including in 2019 and 2003. But this is the first state championship the band has won to the best of his knowledge, he added.

The Tournament of Bands competition took place at Toms River East High School. Fans were able to watch live and see updates on the Marching Band’s Facebook and Instagram pages. Visit the band's Facebook page for more photos and videos.

On Oct. 23, the Marching Band won the Tournament of Bands Group 1A Region 7 Championship with a score of 92.76, two points above the highest score in the band's history, the township said in a news release.

The band also received specialty awards for best music, percussion, visual and guard.

After that win, the buses were loudly welcomed back into Hazlet Township by a convoy of first aid and fire trucks.

The band has 30 musicians and 12 Color Guard members. Based on the number of musicians, bands are placed into a class, Lahaye said, adding the Raritan band is classified into Group 1A.

Their 2022 field show “ImPRISMent” is student-conducted by Drum Major Jack Kobus. The show transports the viewer through Isaac Newton's experiment of creating color with the use of light traveling through a prism. Band members designed and executed their own props, movement and uniforms for the show.

"It was an amazing experience watching the band grow from the beginning of the season to now. And being a part of the marching band is something I will always remember," Kobus said.

And the assistant Drum Major and Flute soloist Willow Caverly added: "Going into this season we were in a new group and unsure of the outcome. But we put in the work, and we succeeded!"

The show features a number of musical soloists this year: Morgan Lee, Stephan Craven, Aiden Lane, Sophia Lo Bue, Jakob Russo- Yanez and Willow Caverly.

Many of their Color Guard members are new and have been working hard to match the level of their older members. The show also showcases two Color Guard soloists, Liana Perez and Kayla Marques.

Under the leadership of Lahaye, the Raritan High School Marching Band has contributed a "soundtrack" to town events, said township spokeswoman Christina Johnson.

Members have lent their talent to Memorial Day, the Tree Lighting ceremony, Bike with a Bunny Parade and 9/11 Candlelight Commemoration, she said in the news release. They also are core members of the new Hazlet Pops Community Band, which provides free lawn concerts in July at Veterans Park.

The band has participated in the New York City St. Patrick's Day Parade, Main Street Parade in Disney World, the Elk's Convention, Keansburg's St. Patrick's and Memorial Day Parades and the NATO Parade of Nations in Norfolk, Va. The band was invited to play at the 80th Anniversary of D-Day in 2024 in Normandy, France.

“We appreciate all the support we get from the school and Hazlet community. It gives us the motivation to be the best we can be,” Lahaye said.