Garden City Marching Band Takes Home Top Honors At Competition

GARDEN CITY, NY — Garden City High School’s Marching Band earned first place in the U.S. Bands Division 2A New York State Championship competition, held at Walt Whitman High School on Oct. 24. The band earned the best caption awards for Best Music, Best Overall Visual and Best Percussion, and also attained the highest overall score of the entire event despite being up against much larger bands. It additionally achieved the highest scores for Individual Music and Overall Visual.

"Not only is this an accomplishment for the students, but also for all of those who help and support the marching band,” teacher Daniel DellaMonica said. “I told the students before the show, that as long as they all perform at their personal best, that I would be happy for them and that they should be proud of themselves. But I am glad that they earned these scores and accolades so that they could get the recognition they deserve for all of their hard work and effort."

A new tradition that the band has introduced is singing through its entire field show prior to their performance. The students feel that this really helps them get "in the zone" and that it boosts morale prior to them taking the field. So far, first place awards resulted from each time they took this approach.

"Everyone involved has put in so much hard work, and the band's fantastic performance on Sunday is proof of that," senior Co-Brass Section Leader Owen Williams said.

"It has been two years since I last marched on the field at Walt Whitman High School,” senior Xindi Luo said. “While we performed, scenes from the past went through my mind, as if the spirit of our band was giving me the courage to perform. Although there are so many new members, we all share the same goal in performing at a high-level together."

Next up for the band is the U.S. Bands National Championship in Allentown, Pennsylvania on Nov. 5 and 6.