SPHS, BHS Marching Bands Ready To Take The Field With New Routines

An estimated 11% of high school students play an instrument in a school ensemble, according to a study conducted by music education researchers in 2019, while the National Federation of State High School Associations reports that more than half of high school students participate in athletics for their high school teams. And some students combine high-level physical fitness and playing an instrument – at the same time - in their school’s marching band.

Broadneck and Severna Park high school marching band members gathered in early August at their respective schools to learn new field routines with technical step choreography and practice high-spirited musical compositions.

Although playing by memory under the weight of instruments and uniforms in unpredictable weather conditions while high-stepping in unison with dozens of others isn’t for everyone, the talented members of local marching bands are excited to pump up crowds at home football games and perform in competitions this fall.

This year 132 students make up the spirited Broadneck High School marching band, 30 more than last year. Matthew Heist has been director of bands at Broadneck for the last 22 years. He also serves as the music department chair.

The theme of the Bruins’ season is “There is a Place” based on “Where the Sidewalk Ends,” the popular book by Shel Silverstein.

“We felt we could arrange music that worked well with this theme and it would be an intriguing visual production for our audiences,” Heist said.

To assist Heist, a student leadership team of 21 students was selected through an application and interview process. Two of those students, senior Jane Blair and junior Maggie Bradford, were respectively named senior and junior drum majors.

In addition to football games, the Bruins will participate in local Maryland Marching Bands Association and USBands shows. Heist said competitive marching bands have taken a lot of influence from musical theater.

“Visual components such as dance and choreography are becoming important factors in the overall competitive score,” Heist added. “Also, we borrow technology from Broadway in terms of live sound reinforcement and amplification.”

Expect the Bruins to bring their dynamic sound and fast-paced visual programming to the field again this season.

Just seven miles away, music department chair Eric Kilby and Jennifer Greeff, president of the Severna Park High School (SPHS) Band and Orchestra Boosters, opened the Falcon marching band’s fall practices with an intensive week of 12-hour band camp for the 110 student performers.

“We have a robust show experience planned for both students and the audience this year,” Greeff said. “Our show theme, ‘Danzon,’ includes energetic Spanish dances and familiar music from Camila Cabello, Jennifer Lopez and Enrique Iglesias. The theme was chosen to represent how music and dance — the arts — bring people together.”

This year’s Falcon band leaders are senior Warren Webb and junior Leeah Wang as senior and junior drum majors, respectively. In addition to performances at all home varsity football games, the Falcon marching band has seven competitions scheduled, including a USBands competition on October 3 at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis.

“Marching band is much like theater in that they are both visual performing arts requiring every member on the field to do their part to make the show look good,” Greeff said. “Marching bands showcase movement while playing various musical instruments, and one wrong step on the field can ruin the visual for the audience.”

Maintaining an exceptional marching band with more than 100 students can be costly. Individuals and businesses interested in supporting Broadneck or Severna Park high school’s marching band can contact Broadneck Music Boosters President Walter Grier at president@bhsmusic.org or Greeff at president@sphsmusic.org. Contributions help cover instrument maintenance and replacement, uniforms, sheet music and costs related to competition and festival travel.