By KAREN MARSHALL
WAKEFIELD — The Wakefield Warrior Marching Band brought home a rarely awarded platinum trophy at Saturday’s New England Scholastic Band Association (NESBA) competition in Reading. It marks only the second time in the band’s history that they have received such a distinction before the NESBA Finals, the first being in 2019.
This year’s show ‘Gatsby’ has not failed to thrill spectators and judges alike. The band achieved their highest ever pre-Finals score, earning 96.26 points, surpassing Oakmont-Overlook (94.03) and Methuen (90.05) in their division.
This impressive win puts Wakefield on track to earn its highest score in competition history this Sunday at the NESBA Finals. Low Brass Section leader Anthony LaVita says he’s excited about the moment. “It’s been an amazing journey and I can’t wait to experience the final performance with everyone.” With excitement can often come nerves, but Drumline Section Leader Glen Paglierani despite that, they are channeling their energy positively. “Of course nerves are expected, but we are more excited than nervous.”
To help prepare, Director of Visual and Performing Arts Tom Bankert says his focus is on maintaining balance and consistency. “Sunday will be as normal a competition day as I can make it…the more normal the better,” Bankert said.
The band held final rehearsals this week and is heading to Veterans Memorial Stadium in Lawrence on Sunday where they will compete against four other schools in Division V.
Bankert shared that the week’s focus will center on “excellence, consistency, achievement and trust.” Trust is a cornerstone of the band’s success. During performances, members are moving all over the field sometimes backward and without sightlines and the precision audiences see on the field is the result of countless hours of rehearsal and the confidence each performer has in their peers.
Kathryn Sliski, Trumpet Section Leader says the tempo changes in ‘Gatsby’ are the hardest element “really making sure the band trusts one another to stay in time for the duration of that specific tempo.” Paglierani agrees, “The timing part of the show is the hardest. Dynamics and staying together are also challenges for us, but both of these allow us to play in time which is our most important job.”
Steps changes pose another challenge, says LaVita. “There are a lot of moments where I go from really small steps to really large ones and keeping that consistent while staying in form can definitely be tricky at times.”
Like many teams, the Warrior Marching Band has a few cherished good-luck rituals they’ll be sure to repeat on Sunday. The drumline travels with a painting of SpongeBob SquarePants character Squidward, the trumpets create a “wave” with their instruments and LaVita’s favorite tradition comes after awards: “The whole band rushes the field and sings Build Me Up Buttercup. It’s one of our favorite moments.”
The Wakefield Warrior Marching Band will perform its final show of the season this Sunday, November 2 at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Lawrence.