West Orange to Host First Marching Band Invitational

The West Orange High School Mountaineers Marching Band is hosting its first invitational competition this Saturday afternoon at Suriano Stadium at the West Orange High School Sports Complex. 

The West Orange Marching Band Invitational will host fourteen competing high school marching bands at 4:30 p.m. from communities including: Livingston, Wayne Valley, Morristown, Glen Ridge, Passiac Valley, Columbia, Nutley, Morris Hills, Mount Olive, Piscataway, West Milford, Wayne Hills, Roxbury and Verona. West Orange will perform in exhibition as is customary for the host of the competition.

“I admire and appreciate the West Orange Marching Band and Color Guard for their tireless efforts, amazing talent, and dedication to West Orange High School,” High School Principal Hayden Moore said. “The parents and friends of the Music Booster Club should also be commended for their hard work year-round in organizing, fundraising and supporting these student musicians and dancers as they represent the very best of our West Orange High School community.”

With the installation of the new stadium lights at Suriano Field, the administration hopes West Orange will become a premier venue for marching band competitions to the pride of the West Orange community.

The event will begin at 4:45 p.m. and conclude with the award presentations at approximately 9:15 p.m. where the ‘Best Overall’ trophy, sponsored by West Orange Mayor Robert Parisi, will be awarded. It is recommended to arrive early for parking and seating.

“I am proud and humbled to be the Drum Major for WOHS Marching Mountaineers, especially as we host our first Marching Band Invitational,” said student Kim Tena.  “It is a great honor to lead this talented and dedicated group of students through the 2013 Marching Band Season.  Being part of Marching Band has taught me how to lead, how to work hard, how to cooperate, and how to blend in yet matter individually.”

The award winning West Orange Mountaineers will perform “Creatures of the Night” featuring Zombie, by The Cranberries, Moonlight Sonata by Ludwig van Beethoven, Toccata & Fugue in D minor by Johann Sebastian Bach, and selections from Beetlejuice, by Danny Elfman; Creep by Radiohead, Danse Macabre by Camille Saint-Saens and Thriller by Michael Jackson. The WOHS Marching Band competed at Roxbury High School on Saturday, September 28th and was awarded First Place in Division AAA, Best Overall Band, Best Color Guard, Best Overall Effect, and Best Percussion. The Marching Mountaineers are the 2009 USSBA Group V Open NJ State Champions, 2009 USSBA Northern Regional Champions, 2010 USSBA Group V Open 3rd Place and 2011 USSBA Group V Open 2ndPlace Champions.

“This competition provides an enormous opportunity to the WOHS Marching Band,” says Band Director Lewis Kelly. “For years we have traveled to many different high schools for competitions. We are finally able to demonstrate what West Orange has to offer by showcasing our great band, great facility and dedicated volunteers.  Music Boosters, the parent organization that support the music programs here at WOHS, have spearheaded the effort to produce this event.  We appreciate their assistance, and the outstanding support of the WOHS Administration and the West Orange Board of Education, in making the Invitational a reality.”

“The inaugural competition is a culmination of the hard work and the dedication of students, staff and volunteers, along with our Fine Arts Director Lou Quagliato and Band Director Lewis Kelly,” Interim Superintendent James O’Neill said. “It will be another proud day for West Orange Schools.”

 Tickets for the West Orange High School Mountaineers Marching Band Invitational, $10 for adults and $7 for students and senior citizens, can be purchased at the gate. Food will be available at the concession stand throughout the event.

“If you have never attended a Marching Band Competition, you are in for a treat.  You will not believe the talent and precision demonstrated by the student participants.  Please come and cheer on all of the bands, and especially West Orange’s Marching Mountaineers,” said Lisa Adelsohn, Music Booster Club President.

“The Marching Mountaineers’ motto, “Pride, Dedication and Excellence”, reflects the Band’s approach to this season, and to the Invitational.  We look forward to making WOHS, and West Orange, proud,” Kim Tena added.

West Orange High School Music Boosters Invitational Co-Chairs are Julie Wiegel and Richard Adelsohn. 

The event is sponsored by Regal Bank. To learn more about the WOHS Music Boosters, to join, sponsor future events or volunteer at the Invitational, visit www.wohsmusic.org or, contact Julie Wiegel at Invitational@WOHSMusic.org.