The award-winning High School North Marching Band kicked off its performing season by winning top awards in the first major competition of the fall. The Northern Knights won first place overall in the Group I open class of the United States Scholastic Band Association (USSBA) competition at Hunterdon Central High School.##M:[more]##
A total of 17 bands competed, including five Group I Open Class bands. The Knights also won awards for best color guard, percussion, marching, effect, and music.
This year’s show, entitled “Classical R&B,” features arrangements of orchestra music by Ottorino Respighi and Bela Bartok.
The band’s drill is written by Henry Manfra, with music arrangements by David Martynuik, director of marching bands at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. The band is under the direction of High School North teacher Mark Bencivengo, and assisted by David P. Linton Jr. and former High School North student Megan Hoffman. The colorguard is instructed by Michelle Fisher. The band is under the field direction of Ajay Menon, drum major, a senior at North.
This season the band will compete in a total of four state and regional USSBA competitions, as well as all football games.
