Dartmouth marching band hosts annual band show
The soloist performs in the cage. Photos by Kat Sheridan
The wind section marches across the field. 
The color guard in front of the drumline. 
A number of the performers pose during the show. 
The performers lean in beat to the song. 
The color guard performs in front of the cage. 
The drum section performs while flags fly behind them. 
The color guard escapes from the cage. 
The color guard inside the cage. 
The band inside of the cage.
The soloist performs in the cage. Photos by Kat Sheridan
The wind section marches across the field.
The color guard in front of the drumline.
A number of the performers pose during the show.
The performers lean in beat to the song.
The color guard performs in front of the cage.
The drum section performs while flags fly behind them.
The color guard escapes from the cage.
The color guard inside the cage.
The band inside of the cage.
The crowd was almost louder than the Dartmouth marching band during their annual band show on Saturday, Oct. 24, where they performed a piece about escaping cages.
“This is our best show yet,” said band director Marielle Chrupcala, “This is the biggest, most Dartmouth supporting crowd.”
The high school hosted 15 bands, who competed across a number of divisions. As Dartmouth was hosting, they were unable to compete. The team did receive a score, which has not been announced but will be added to their yearly average.
They performed “Caged,” which they have been working on since the summer. The theme is breaking out of constraints, which happens literally during the show. The show starts with all of the kids in a cage, which they slowly start to escape.
“The show was written custom to them. We have custom drum parts, custom wind parts, custom choreography written for them,” said Chrupcala, “There’s nothing about this show that have been done before.”
Eventually only one soloist is left within the cage, flapping her wings. She eventually escapes and the cage is pulled apart, with the students performing around the pieces.
“We try and have the band interact with the cage as almost a ‘Look, I can break out of this and it may still always … be a part of me and a part of my life, but I was able to overcome this thing and sort of break out of a cage,” said Chrupcala. “Becoming a really great family.”
This is the first time in the marching band’s history where the color guard, drums, the pit and the winds all came together as one team. While they have performed together, Chrupcala focused on having them practice together.
“We’ve seen the camaraderie just increased dramatically and the kids are having a great time,” she said.
Prior to the performance, John Nunes read out a number of encouragements that parents and loved ones submitted to the band. There were also posters honoring the six seniors on the team; Nicholas Hutson, Kyra Sanborn, Jake Nunes, Jason Anuszcyk, Harrison Lisa and Sam Jansen.
“I’m just so, so incredibly proud of the kids,” said Chrupcala, “The way that they’ve taken this show and run with it. It’s really incredible.”
She added, “They’re performing the heck out of the show. They’re just so enthusiastic.”
The team will be heading to the state finals the weekend of Oct. 31 and Nov. 1 and the regional finals in Allentown, Pennsylvania on Saturday Nov. 7.
