Newtown High School Marching Band & Guard 18th Annual Joseph P. Grasso Music Festival is Coming!

The Newtown Marching Band & Guard will host its annual home show and fundraiser Saturday, October 18 at Newtown High School’s Blue and Gold Stadium. The show will feature Newtown’s performance of its award-winning show “Arachne”, as well as offering performances by seven Connecticut high school marching bands vying for top scores in the Musical Arts Conference (MAC) competition.

Always a sentimental highlight of the show is recognition of NHS’s 32 graduating seniors. Many of the seniors, who will be performing at Grasso for the last time, began their journey with NHS Band Director Kurt Eckhardt as Newtown Middle School eighth graders, making this event their fifth and final appearance. “This is always a bittersweet evening for me,”, Mr. Eckhardt said.

Newtown’s Marching Band & Guard seniors are: Aimee Alexander (Brass Captain, Trumpet), Maryyam Ali (Flute), Seth Barrett (Tuba), Nina Bonvini (Color Guard), Sarah Braga (Color Guard), Emily Brinkmann (Color Guard), Rachel Buzzi (Clarinet), Makenzie Casey (Color Guard), Courtney Datin (Color Guard), Aileen Decker (Color Guard), Liam Decker (Mellophone), Lauren Engels (Color Guard), Caitlin Filiato (Tuba), Rachael Fuchs (Drum Major), Kayleigh Granville (Color Guard), Greg Grasso (Trombone), Christopher Hartley (Tenor Sax), Humza Hashmi (Drum Major), Emma Hungaski (Drum Major), Caitlin Jones (Color Guard Captain), Andrew King (Flute), Catherine Menousek (Pit), Kelsea Morshuk-Allen (Color Guard Captain), Bridget O’Donnell (Color Guard), Trevor Palmer (Drumline), Gabriella Perpignand (Flute), Rory Phillips (Drumline), Richie Sadlon (Woodwind Captain, Tenor Sax), Sierra Toomey (Trombone), Justin Tran (Clarinet) , Noelle Veillette (Pit), and Brittany Violet (Color Guard).

The NHS “Home Show” begins at 6 PM with gates open at 5. The Grasso festival is the largest fundraiser for the entire NHS Marching Band & Guard program, and features an enhanced menu of chicken Caesar salad wraps joining perennial favorites pulled pork and chili bowls along with baked goods and other treats.

Tickets are $10 for adults and $7 for students and seniors, Children under 5 are free.