Newtown High School Marching Band & Guard Hosts 21st Annual Grasso Festival

The Newtown Nighthawks Marching Band & Guard will host the 21st annual Joseph P. Grasso Marching Band Festival Saturday, September 30, 2017 at the high school’s Blue & Gold Stadium. Gates open at 5pm and the show begins at 6.

The NHS “Home Show” will feature nine high school marching bands from Connecticut and New York vying for top scores in the USBands competition. The Nighthawks will perform an exhibition of their award-winning show “Dystopia,” a retelling of George Orwell’s novel, 1984.

Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for students and seniors, and admission is free for children under 5 years old. The event is the largest fundraiser for the NHS Marching Band & Guard program.

A deluxe Snack Shack menu featuring perennial favorites chili in a bread bowl and pulled pork sandwiches will be served, and vegetarian and gluten-free items will be available. A variety of bake sale treats will also be offered.

A ceremony honoring the Nighthawks’ 24 graduating seniors will follow the competition. The Band & Guard seniors are Maggie Alexander, mellophone; Jack Bittman, tenor saxophone; Jen Browne, flute; Andrew Buzzi, tenor saxophone; Kyle Chernoff, trumpet; Andrew DeGirolamo, trumpet; Bryce Doherty, tuba; Jimmy Doutney, trumpet; Jenna Ehnot, drum major; Tristan Filiato, pit; Isabelle Fitzgerald, color guard captain, Michael Glover, color guard, Anthony Isabella, trumpet; Thomas Jensen, brass captain, trombone; Emily King, pit; Ian Klepacki, woodwind captain, alto saxophone; Jake Loutensock, trumpet; Matt Lundquist, drumline; Dominic Pasquarella, drumline; Scott Preszler, drumline; Kevin Reiss, tuba; David Romano, pit; Grace Sholtes, drum major, alto saxophone; and Adam Wolff, drum major.