For the second consecutive year, the “Pride of Westmoreland” Marching Band concluded its competitive season by having its best showing ever at the New York State Field Band Conference Championship Show.
The “Pride” received a score of 88.40 – eclipsing its previous high score of 86.79 set last year – to place in a tie for second with Phoenix in the Small School 2 Class. The second place finish remains the “Pride’s” best result in the event, which it also achieved in 2018 and 2021. The 50th Annual New York State Field Band Conference Championship Show took place at the JMA Wireless Dome at Syracuse University on October 30. The show brings together more than 50 of the finest high school marching bands in the northeastern United States, and is the culmination of an eight-week season featuring nearly 60 bands in thirty-four regional competitions throughout New York State. For the show, bands are divided into six different classifications based on school size and past competitive experience. Each band performs a 10-minute musical and visual show for a panel of 10 judges. The judges score and rank each band within its class. Each band receives a plaque and the highest scoring New York State band in each class takes home the coveted Governor’s Cup. The “Pride of Westmoreland” Marching Band competed against eight other schools, including two schools from Pennsylvania and one school from New Jersey.
“As always, our students made us proud on and off the field,” Kristyn Cutler, “Pride of Westmoreland” Marching Band director, said. “Their performance was spectacular and their camaraderie and sportsmanship was commendable! They really showed the state how wonderful the ‘Pride of Westmoreland’ is!”
The “Pride of Westmoreland” Marching Band starts practicing in May to prepare for Memorial Day and Fourth of July parades. Between the parades and over the summer, the band learns and refines its competition show. Competitions begin in September and each weekend during the fall, the band travels across Central New York to compete against other school bands. The band also performs at select home football games.
Congratulations, “Pride of Westmoreland” Marching Band!
Photo credit: Scott Schild