Pride of Newark Marching Band 2017 season
A very successful 2017 season for the Pride of Newark Marching Band is coming to an end with the 43rd Annual Newark Marching Band Invitational on Saturday, October 21 and the Ohio Music Education Association State Marching Band Finals on Saturday, October 28.
The season got off to a great start with the band wearing new uniforms for the first time in 23 years. NHS Director of Bands Lee Auer, in his 2nd year in the position, stated that, “The band boosters and members had worked very hard for several years to raise the funds needed to purchase the uniforms.” He also pointed to the fact that the Newark City Schools Board of Education and Superintendent Doug Ute had removed the requirement for individual school groups and athletic teams to pay for their own transportation costs. Those funds could now be used for helping buy the uniforms and instruments the band needed.
The Pride has also enjoyed competitive success on the field. They have been rated superior in their last three competitions and qualified for the OMEA Marching Band State Finals for a state record 38 consecutive years. The band was the Grand Champion at the Valley Invitational in Lucasville, and this past Saturday had the thrill of performing, and being rated superior, at the Buckeye Invitational at The Ohio State University. These two performances had special meaning for Mr. Auer as he was the former director at Valley High School and was a member of the OSU marching band.
This Saturday’s contest starts at noon and runs until 4:00 with 15 bands. Competing bands, in performance order, include Millersport, West Muskingum, Van Buren, Northridge, Licking Valley, Groveport Madison, Lancaster, Watkins Memorial, Warren, River View, Marietta, Licking Heights, Westerville North, and the Pride of Newark.
Admission is $7 for adults and $5 for senior citizens and children 3 and under. For additional information please contact the NHS Fine Arts Department 740-670-7440.
Posted: Thursday, October 19, 2017