Harbor High School - Mariner Yearbook (Ashtabula, OH)

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up to keep warm in the frigid temperatures during a home football game Band is simply brilliant! The marching band is most widely known as entertainment for football halftime shows and arousing spirit during games. But this year the Harbor Marching band broke that mold and entered their first year of competition. They set high standards and goals which they worked very hard to attain. They started working a week after school was out so they could become fa- miliar with the music. In August, a week before band camp, they had day and night rehearsals, mostly to work on basics. At the Qualifiers band camp in Alliance, Penn- sylvania they worked for five days to learn a much harder show than they had ever dreamed of. They received much support and enthusiasm from the Qualifiers since they wrote the show cost-free and took a special interest in the band. They were very industrious and productive, and their final performance on the last day proved that. Along with a promising performance, they received awards for best drum major, Dave Lesperance, and most outstanding auxiliary line. They competed in four competitions to qualify for the New York State Competition in Syracuse. Among these were McDowell, 4th place; Jamestown, 2nd; Meadville, 6th; and finally in Girard they placed 1st. They worked very hard each week to con- tinually improve their show. They practiced during school and two nights a week for two and a half hours. Their ambition and persistence paid off when they were re- warded 5th place at their ultimate destina- tion, Syracuse N.Y. It was doubly exciting because they were the hrst band ever from Ohio to compete there. The band plans to compete again next year, and since they already have one year of experience under their belt they expect to do even betterll 24hStudent Life

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, I 2 3 r t, t Band goes to Syracuse, NY. The Harbor Band was the first in Ohio to compete there! At the beginning of the summer when the Harbor Band talked of Syracuse it seemed so far away that it didn't even seem a reality or even a possibility. The Qualifiers at band camp honored the band by writing a show and helping the band to learn ite-all for free! The only obstacle was that they had to raise enough money to enter the competition. The approximat- ed price was $7,000. It seemed an incredible task, but the support they got from the boosters and parents was sufficient to give the plan the 'igo ahead. The band started to work on the music the week after school let out, and two weeks before band camp they began working on marching basics. This was their foundation for band camp. The show that the Qualifiers wrote for the band would normally have cost $3,000. They made it clear at camp that it would take a lot of work, but they thought we could handle it. To our surprise they had only given an offer such as this to only one other bandeseven years before. After the band competed at their five required competitions they received their standing for Syracuse. They were seeded 6th out of eight bands and they had two weeks to polish up the show before Syra- cuse. Normally the band held two evening rehearsals a week but for these two crucial weeks they decided to practice three nights. The last rehearsal they had showed their dedication and determination when they were forced to march on the Washington field only with car headlights to enable them to see. The football field had been too muddy to march on, and because of the time the only way to see was to use these lights. On Saturday November 5, the band loaded the buses to travel a seven hour drive to Syracuse. When they arrived they checked into their rooms, went to a pizza party, and to bed, because they had to be packed and in uniform by 6:00 am. the next morning. The following morning, after eating breakfast they loaded the bus and were off to the dome to compete- finally. 0n the way there the second bus broke down on the highway, and Mr. Heusinger began to get nervous because they were scheduled to warm up at 8:30 and to perform at 9:30, and time was ticking away. Finally the buses pulled up at 8:30. The band warmed up, tuned up and lined up to go onto the field. The dome was a real change for the band As Lisa Edmonds said, When I marched into the dome I was awe-struck by the size. I really felt honored to be there. So they marched on and warmed up and the salute was given by drum major Dave Lesperance and assistant Sandra Rebera. After the rest of the bands competed in the Novice class the awards were giv- en. Since they were seeded 6th they were getting very anxious after the 6th and 5th place awards were already given out-neither to Harbor! They were pre- sented a plaque for fourth place; only .3 of a point from 3rd. Was it worth it? Scott Bennett feels the, Syracuse was really an experience. This was the biggest thing the band has probably done since the Germany trip in '75. It was a lot of fun and all the hard work we have done has really paid 0 This has got to be the best band that Harbor has had for a long time and I think it's really geat that the hard work finally paid off at Syracuse, says assistant d'urn major Sandy Rebera. This rewarding accomplishment for the band taught them more than how to march or play an instrument. It taught them discipline, respect for one another and made them very proud since they were the first band in Ohio ever to compete in this competition. Stacie Swedenborg seems to sum it up rather well, This marching season was very successful. It was a lot of work and sometimes became very tedious. But our placement at Syracuse made it all worthwhilel Band Trip023

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Who just made that catch? Malorette Kelly Steif and head drummer Joe Saddler look over the football program together, Amend hut! Clarinetist Kathleen Greelief properly stands at attemion before marching onm me competinon field. Woodwind buddies Julie Thomas and Kelly Lwarence talk on a vainy night during a game How does rhis work.7? Bell player Marv Metcalf shows freshman Penny Miller the mechanics of the xylophone while Dave Russell watches. Marching Band 25