Band wraps up 2003
season on a high note
BY VINCENT TODARO
Staff Writer

EAST BRUNSWICK — Despite the odds against it, the East Brunswick High School Marching Band recently aced two prestigious contests that concluded a successful competitive season.

The band, which had to add eighth-graders this year to fill out the ranks, was rewarded with a second-place finish Nov. 8 at the Tournament of Bands Atlantic Coast Invitational Champion-ship. Better yet, on Nov. 15 the band took first place during a contest held in Allentown, Pa.

In addition to winning the overall part of the Allentown contest, titled the U.S. Scholastic Band Association All States Championship, the band also won individual awards for best marching, best auxiliary and best percussion.

The wins culminate a time of struggle for the marching band, which also includes a color guard, due to a shrinking budget and fewer musicians.

Peter Kroeckel, a band parent who is also its press agent, said the unit used to include eighth-graders but stopped because it was not "productive." However, the ranks of the band became too small, so the district this year decided to allow eighth-graders to participate again.

Meaghan Suprina, a junior who plays flute in the band, said the band is about one-third eighth-graders this year.

Despite the fact that ninth-graders go to Churchill Junior High School, as do the eighth-graders, they have always played in the marching band.

The band also had to overcome some problems last year when it had organizational and other issues, Meaghan said.

"[This] was an excellent year considering last year was a transition year," Kroeckel said. "This year was excellent. They were more organized, and the music was done through band camp."

Parents have played a big part in keeping the band going despite budget cuts. Kroeckel said they do a lot of fund raising for the band, which has about 80 members, and in fact work at concession stands during Rutgers University basketball and football games. Because of the East Brunswick parents’ help, the university allows the district to keep 50 percent of the profits made at the stands.

"You are required as a band parent to work at least five of those games," he said.

Band Director John Kish was obviously proud of the band’s improvement.

"I thought the accomplishments were wonderful," he said. "We dealt with a band that was more than 50 percent new members."

Kish chose the music the band played at the contests. While the band has performed music from Phantom of the Opera and Miss Saigon in past years, this year it used Latin music for the contest as well as during the football games and all other fall performances.

The school district’s supervisor of arts education, Robert McGarry, also praised the efforts.

"Our band members, directors and parents have been working non-stop since last spring in order to reach the level of performance that earned this first place," he said. "Such an accomplishment is another reason why East Brunswick has been recognized by the American Music Conference as one of the Best 100 Communities for Music Education this year."

Jamie Suprina, Meaghan’s mother, said the kids deserve the bulk of the credit.

"They really, really work hard," she said. "When you talk to people, they don’t realize how much time is spent practicing."

In fact, the members give up their weekends due to the football games, practices and sometimes the tournaments.

"I think a lot of the people enjoy it or else they wouldn’t be there," Meaghan said. "It’s also a social outlet. We have a lot of fun at band camp as well as a lot of work."

Kroeckel said the band is still small compared to units at many other schools, and it does not get involved with much of the theatrical routines performed by other bands. Other schools often use a lot of props as well.

At its Nov. 24 meeting, the Township Council issued a proclamation honoring the band for its victories.