Norwich hosts Fall Festival of Bands Saturday
NORWICH – The Norwich Purple Tornado Field Band will strut their stuff one last time at Ulrich Stadium this season at the Fall Festival of Bands Saturday.
Football fans have gotten a look at the band’s competitive field show before, when they have performed during half time. But this will be the local community’s first opportunity to observe them on their home field in true competition.
According to band director Lansing Dimon, the 65-member group has been practicing since June to perfect their 2009 show, entitled “Gypsy Tapestries - Weavers of Life.”
“The majority of the music ... revolves around the weaving of lives together,” Dimon said. The performance, which has a strong Eastern European influence, includes costuming, flag movement and props which perpetuates that same theme.
While the field band director admits the Purple Tornado got off to a slow start this year in competitions, they have been improving steadily.
“It’s really starting to click,” said Dimon, explaining that Norwich increased their average score by 7 points between the first two shows of the year.
One of the band’s challenges may very well be one of its biggest strengths in coming years.
“We have a younger group this year,” he said, adding that around 40 percent of the band’s participants are new to the program. Overall numbers are up as well, from last year’s 54.
The Festival of Bands, which is the effort of approximately 70 parents and community members known as the Norwich Field Band Parents, serves as the Purple Tornado’s sole home competition of the year. Saturday’s spectators will not only have the chance to see Norwich perform, but field bands from Johnson City, Wellsville, Vestal, Westmoreland, Union-Endicott and Mohonasen as well.
According to festival co-coordinator Sharon Mason, the competition will kick off at approximately 6:25 p.m. with the playing of the Star Spangled Banner.
The schools will then perform in turn. Each will be scored on both their musical performance and the visual impact of the drill by a total of seven judges, selected by the New York State Field Band Conference, Dimon explained.
An awards ceremony and senior recognition will follow the competitive portion of the event.
According to Mason, this year’s Festival of Bands is being dedicated to a past coordinator, Tim Coffelt.
Coffelt, who passed away last year, was extremely active with the Norwich Field Band Parents, she explained.
“I think a lot of people are looking forward (to the dedication),” she said.
Tickets for the Festival of Bands are $5 in advance, or $6 at the gate. Pre-sale tickets are available at the Pennysaver/Evening Sun offices, Garf’s Deli and the Norwich YMCA.
“It’s a huge fundraiser for us,” said Mason. Money raised, whether through the fall festival or through other fundraising efforts held during the year, is used to cover travel and transportation expenses as well as to make sure that students are properly attired for competition, she explained.
“We don’t deny any kid,” Mason said.
Saturday will be the last time the Purple Tornado Field Band will perform their competitive field show in front of a crowd before they head to the Carrier Dome in Syracuse on Sunday, Nov. 1 for the final New York State Field Band Conference competition of the year.
Football fans have gotten a look at the band’s competitive field show before, when they have performed during half time. But this will be the local community’s first opportunity to observe them on their home field in true competition.
According to band director Lansing Dimon, the 65-member group has been practicing since June to perfect their 2009 show, entitled “Gypsy Tapestries - Weavers of Life.”
“The majority of the music ... revolves around the weaving of lives together,” Dimon said. The performance, which has a strong Eastern European influence, includes costuming, flag movement and props which perpetuates that same theme.
While the field band director admits the Purple Tornado got off to a slow start this year in competitions, they have been improving steadily.
“It’s really starting to click,” said Dimon, explaining that Norwich increased their average score by 7 points between the first two shows of the year.
One of the band’s challenges may very well be one of its biggest strengths in coming years.
“We have a younger group this year,” he said, adding that around 40 percent of the band’s participants are new to the program. Overall numbers are up as well, from last year’s 54.
The Festival of Bands, which is the effort of approximately 70 parents and community members known as the Norwich Field Band Parents, serves as the Purple Tornado’s sole home competition of the year. Saturday’s spectators will not only have the chance to see Norwich perform, but field bands from Johnson City, Wellsville, Vestal, Westmoreland, Union-Endicott and Mohonasen as well.
According to festival co-coordinator Sharon Mason, the competition will kick off at approximately 6:25 p.m. with the playing of the Star Spangled Banner.
The schools will then perform in turn. Each will be scored on both their musical performance and the visual impact of the drill by a total of seven judges, selected by the New York State Field Band Conference, Dimon explained.
An awards ceremony and senior recognition will follow the competitive portion of the event.
According to Mason, this year’s Festival of Bands is being dedicated to a past coordinator, Tim Coffelt.
Coffelt, who passed away last year, was extremely active with the Norwich Field Band Parents, she explained.
“I think a lot of people are looking forward (to the dedication),” she said.
Tickets for the Festival of Bands are $5 in advance, or $6 at the gate. Pre-sale tickets are available at the Pennysaver/Evening Sun offices, Garf’s Deli and the Norwich YMCA.
“It’s a huge fundraiser for us,” said Mason. Money raised, whether through the fall festival or through other fundraising efforts held during the year, is used to cover travel and transportation expenses as well as to make sure that students are properly attired for competition, she explained.
“We don’t deny any kid,” Mason said.
Saturday will be the last time the Purple Tornado Field Band will perform their competitive field show in front of a crowd before they head to the Carrier Dome in Syracuse on Sunday, Nov. 1 for the final New York State Field Band Conference competition of the year.
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