Vikings hit the high notes during victorious season

By KATHY CHANG
Staff Writer

SOUTH BRUNSWICK — Sometimes when life is a little tilted, a little off-balance, that’s when the fun begins.

And fun is what the South Brunswick High School Viking marching band has had this season with their performance, dubbed “Full Tilt.”

The band gave its final performance on Thanksgiving Day during the home football game, in which South Brunswick defeated North Brunswick, 34-13.

Ginny Kraft’s visual arrangement of the band’s 182 members had players moving on ramps and seesaws.

“This is the first time we did that,” said Band Director Mark Kraft, Ginny’s husband.

This year, the Viking marching band placed first place in five of their six Group VI open competitions, including the New Jersey State Championships at Rutgers University. They placed second in the national championships at MetLife Stadium in November.

Mark Kraft said it has been a decade since the band had placed first or second in all its competitions.

The first contest was held at Piscataway High School Sept. 28, when the band took top honors for music, visual, effect, guard and percussion, and was awarded the Mayor’s Trophy. The other competitions included Tournament of Champions and multiband events at Hillsborough High School and East Brunswick High School.

The band won first place for best effect and color guard at every competition, Mark Kraft said.

Sabrina Porcelli, who plays tenor sax, said the state competition at Rutgers was exciting.

“We didn’t play there since my freshman year,” she said. “Because of a 45-minute rain delay, we didn’t perform until 12:30 a.m.”

Ben Zimmitti, who plays trumpet and is a drum major, said it was great to hear how people loved and enjoyed the show.

“It was a fun show to perform,” he said. “Being part of the marching band gives me a sense of belonging. We are all a group of friends that share the same common interests.”

Flute player and drum major Hyebina Park said her favorite part of this season was the positive energy that was emanating from everyone in the band.

“We are all part of one big family, spending a lot of time together, meeting three to four times a week for two-and-a-half hours. And on competition Saturdays, it is almost all day,” she said. “My closest friends are in the band.”

Noah Brown, who plays trumpet and is a drum major, loved how everybody came together as a team, which showed this season with the first-place wins.

“I love being part of the marching band because I get to spend time with my 180 brothers and sisters,” he said.

Planning for each season starts in March, when the band discusses ideas for the show, Mark Kraft said. By May, the band has a concept and music written for the performance. Rehearsals start in August, when the band members take part in a one-week band camp.

After camp, they spend the season revising, tweaking and refining the show.

Mark Kraft said being in the marching band offers students skills that are useful in all aspects of their lives. These include discipline, teamwork and time management.

The band’s success can be attributed to the hard work of everyone involved, he said. Ginny Kraft is in charge of the visual effects of the show and designs the costumes. Donna Cardaneo assists with aspects of the show, including the business side. Casey Beggs is in charge of percussion and Kraft oversees the brass section, while Ben Schwartz arranges the music for the show.