Marching Band
| Fair Lawn Marching Band |
 |
 |
 |
| Written by Administrator |
| Monday, 24 August 2009 00:00 |
Fair Lawn High School Marching BandIT’S ALL ABOUT THE PERFORMANCE 
Between being Director of Bands and a teacher of music theory, Paul Kafer’s duties with the Fair Lawn High School Marching Band will be equally divided this season.
"One-third of the band graduated, so this year perhaps more than ever, will be about teaching," said Mr. Kafer, who enters his 13th season as head of one of the most successful marching band programs in the United States. "We’re very excited about the opportunities to be teaching the basics and having so many new students entering the program."
With 26 new students and an early competition opener on September 12, the Cutters look to be fast learners during their annual band camp, an 8-day stretch of 9 hour days in the August heat followed by a full slate of home-and-away football games. The band will perform in eight competitions including the New Jersey State Championships at Union on Oct. 25, the Northern State Championships on Nov. 1 at Allentown, PA, and its fourth consecutive invitation to the United States National Marching Band Championships at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD on Nov. 7.
"We're interested in providing our students with the educational opportunities to perform at the highest level and to express themselves as musicians and artists," said Mr. Kafer. "We’ve always been about the performance and that will never change."
Fair Lawn's 2009 show is entitled Passages and encompasses lively compositions based on celebrating and getting the most of out life's experiences. The three sections are "Impact", with its bold, rhythmic and harmonic punctuations; "Forever Holding Close the Memories", which focuses on woodwind and brass; and "Rhythm Danse" with its glorious full ensemble climatic section.
Mr. Kafer and his staff will be looking to make the most of out having a 90 student ensemble with musical formations that will cover an entire football field from end zone to end zone. The 16 member Color Guard will provide the visual effects for the show.
The nationally-ranked Marching Band & Color Guard is coming off its eighth consecutive national Top 15 finish in the country. The Cutters also placed second at the Central Regional championships and 13th at the United States National Marching Band Championships in Group IV Open Class competition last fall.
The Cutters open their 2009 competition schedule with the first of five United States Scholastic Band Association (USSBA) shows on Saturday, September 12 when they travel to Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School. Following an off week, Fair Lawn returns to the Pequannock High School Band Festival on Sept. 19, where last year they won for Best Percussion and placed second overall.
On Oct. 4 they travel to Edison for the 22nd annual Home Show Marching Band Festival at JP Stevens High School, where they swept all captions last year including Best Overall Effect and Best Color Guard.
On Oct. 11 they travel to Bergenfield for the Bergen County Invitational, which they won in 2008 and did not compete in last year. The Cutters then close out their USSBA show season on Oct. 17 in Edison before moving onto the championship portion of their schedule with the New Jersey State Championships Oct. 25 in Union and the USSBA Northern States Championships Nov. 1 in Allentown, PA.
The Cutters will then end their season on a high note with their fourth consecutive invitation to the U.S. National Marching Band Championships on Nov. 7 at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD.
"Our students know that if they work really, really hard and dedicate themselves to their craft, we'll provide them with the training and the opportunity to perform at the highest level," said Mr. Kafer. "Giving it their all and aspiring to be great is what makes a winning program."
One that enjoys an unparalleled tradition of excellence: Â - 8 consecutive seasons as one of the Top 15 bands in USSBA
Class is now in session. Septemeber 29,2009 (There is a High Def verison on YouTube.) |
| Last Updated on Saturday, 26 September 2009 20:35 |
