Thursday Evening, November 8

What fun to be invited to Manheim Central’s Marching Barons practice session for the 59th Annual Cavalcade of Bands Marching Band Championship.

They were going through a practice routine when we arrived with Jere, Kristen, Josh, Jared, and Jesse.

Jere got permission to sit in the announcers box to record the practice session.

Jesse joined him and enjoyed his hot chocolate. One of the moms was serving hot chocolate to all the parents, grandparents and relatives who came to see the final practice. The director likes to have an audience for this final practice.

They took a short break before the final practice performance. Ian (our grandson) is second from left.

Ian plays a drum in the drum line (second from left).

The title of their competition performance is called Eclipse.

They did a great job at the competition two days later. This was the review from the Lititz Record:

Manheim Central’s Marching Barons participated in the 59th annual Cavalcade of Bands Marching Band Championship on Nov. 10 at Hershey Park Stadium over the weekend.

With their performance packaged, “Eclipse,” they scored 89.20, placing them second in the Patriot A division. They are especially proud of their percussion section, who earned divisional high honors.

The band used the bitter cold and windy conditions as “a springboard to push hard and really play well,” director John Brackbill said.

Brackbill said this performance was bittersweet because the fourth-graders he started teaching in 2011 will graduate high school this year.

Performance details: “Eclipse.” The four-part movement features music from “Jubilateo” by Samuel Hazo, “Eclipse” by Matt Browne, and “Black Hole Sun” by American rock band Soundgarden.