THE ECHO

By Simon Klinck // Reporter

There are many activities at Avon High School, but none as accomplished as the marching band.

The 6-time Bands of America national championship winning Black and Gold debuted their new program “A Balanchine Act” at Community Day on August 22^nd.

“We put more show on the field than we ever have before,” said Matthew Abbey, head director of the band. “Community Day was a great time; it all went very smoothly.”

The band began practicing all the way back in May and June before starting their band camp in July. During a school week, they practice 6-9 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays before practicing 9-5 on Saturdays. However, the schedule varies depending on whether there is a show that week.

“When it comes to ramping up for the season, kind of getting all the ducks in a row yeah, it’s been a learning experience,” Abbey said.

The marching band will kick off their competitive season at Westfield on Sep. 12th, but it’s not just about winning either. Besides the trophies, members get many other things out of marching.

“Marching band has taught me about being disciplined, having integrity, and being able to rely on others,” said junior Calvin Bishop.  “It’s like a family you can always trust, having friends like you can rely on, building relationships with others in general.”

The directors strive to instill a culture of humility, effort, and respect towards their members. Overall, hard work is what pushes the band through each winning season, and it comes from each and every single member.

“The band program is great because our team here is great,” Abbey said. “Our staff is awesome and our kids are awesome. They show up, they try hard and then we can make them better.”