Marching Band Honored for Historic Performance

The Bridgewater-Raritan High School marching band was recognized by the board of education Tuesday for placing higher than any other New Jersey band in history at the recent Band of America Grand Nationals in Indianapolis.

With members of the band and their parents watching, along with director Larry Markiewicz, the board showed a video of the band’s performance at the competition, receiving a standing ovation at the end.

“The band ended as the highest-placing New Jersey band in the history of the competition, and the second New Jersey band ever to make the cut for semifinals,” board president Evan Lerner said. “And they were awarded the National Esprit de Corps trophy for its ideals of leadership.”

And then, Lerner said, the band returned from Indianapolis and immediately headed to the state championships in Edison, where they won first place with a score of 98.265.

“And all this was in the wake of Hurricane Sandy where practice time was extremely limited if non-existent,” he said.

Board member Jeffrey Brookner read the resolution into the record that honors the band, and also recognizes the Avon High School in Indiana, which provided the Bridgewater-Raritan band a space to practice after they missed out on many practices because of Superstorm Sandy.

“The board of education, on behalf of Bridgewater and Raritan, extends deepest thanks to the Avon School Corporation and parents for their assistance,” he read in the resolution.

The Esprit de Corps award, given at the championships for leadership and morale, was given to both Bridgewater and Avon High School for working together, and for the assistance provided.

A copy of the resolution is being sent to the Indiana school.

“Everyone should be extraordinarily proud of this group,” Brookner said.

“Thank you for being our band,” Lerner added.