Marching Towards Success

First year MHS music teacher Jeffrey Ventres has now taken charge of the marching band.

When asked how this season was going, Ventres said, “My first year here at Montville is going very well. I’ve been welcomed into the community and have felt support of the parents, students and faculty. As busy and chaotic the first year in a new position in a new school can be, I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

Ventres has big goals for his students.

“I look forward to the progress we make in all of our ensembles and seeing how we make it through the new year and being able to push our music abilities to the next level. Also, I look forward to being able to see where we go in the future and how much we push ourselves.”

The band rehearses 2 1/2 hours before football games and competitions as well as every Tuesday and Thursday.

The students are also excited for this year. Drum major and trumpet player Shaun Radgowski says, “It is one of the greatest and most rewarding opportunities of my life to be one of the drum majors. I’m really proud to have the opportunity to lead a group of really talented people. It’s an honor.”

Radgowski is a junior and would like to continue music and engineering when he graduates.

Sophomore and trumpet player Morgan Gilland says, “ I look forward to knowing that the hard work, blood, sweat, and chapped lips all go towards the competitions and the amazing feeling of knowing I kicked brass, (it’s a pun) out there on the field. Also, I like when you see our competitors drop their jaws when they hear us play.”

Morgan wants to do DMI (Drum Core International) and/ or be a part of a professional band after high school.

Senior saxophone player Katelynn Kolasa says, “I look forward to knowing what the show is about, like this year we did classic rock, and also the competitions.”

She wants to do marching band and concert band at Louisiana State University when she graduates.