This year’s musical show is called "The Beatles" and includes "Magical Mystery Tour," "Something" and "Can’t Buy Me Love."
By: Donna Lukiw
Saturday wasn’t just "a day in the life" for the members of Manville High School’s marching band, as the band launched its new Beatles-tribute program and captured first-place honors at the season’s first competition.
The band students won first place in three categories.
"I thought it was a pretty good performance for the first one," drum major Ema Yakobchuk said. "There was a lot of good energy coming from the band."
The 31-member marching band competed Saturday at Somerville High School along with three other bands in their scholastic group.
Three hours before the competition, the students arrived at Manville High School to practice, but that wasn’t enough and they practiced again for an hour at Somerville High School.
This year’s musical show is called "The Beatles" and the students had 15 minutes to play their pieces including, "Magical Mystery Tour," "Something" and "Can’t Buy Me Love."
After waiting patiently and listening to the other bands, Manville High School was awarded first place overall in its group, first place for Best Music and first place for Best Percussion.
"Competitions are always fun and it’s really exciting at the end with the awards," trumpet player Brian Cortelyou said.
Since the students play the same show for every competition, alto sax player Melissa Grimm said there is always a chance for improvement since the students receive the judges tapes and can see what they can improve on.
"Before I joined marching band I didn’t know it was so competitive," trumpet player Matt Kita said. "You get really anxious while you’re there and it’s cool to see other bands and see what they do to get ideas."
The next competition will be held at Voorhees High School on Oct. 15.
The competitions run until November at various schools where the students are then entered into the finals.