Joliet West High School Marching Tigers Start Competition Season on a High Note

The Joliet West Marching Tigers have started their competitive season on a high note, recently placing third in two high school marching band competitions. The 2015 competition show, “Transformation,” includes original music by Craig Fitzpatrick and Imogen Heap.

On Saturday, September 12, the band competed at the A.A. Stagg Marching Jamboree and finished 3rd in class AAA at the competition, which included 21 bands from across the Chicago suburbs.

Continuing along this path of excellence, on Saturday, September 19,the band, along with 14 others, traveled down to Pontiac, Illinois for the Pontiac High School Marching Indian Showdown, where they once again finished in 3rd place this time in class 4A.

“I am very proud of how the students have begun their season,” stated Eric Wellman, director of the Marching Tigers. “They have worked hard throughout the summer and beginning of the school year. I am excited about finishing up our show and seeing how far the students can go and how much they can achieve over the last month of the season.”

The Marching Tigers are led by Drum Majors Sydney Jordan, Elise A’Hearn, and Dafina Bajrami. “Transformation” features trumpet soloist Gerardo Martinez and flute soloist Abby Klima.

The upcoming competition schedule for October includes the Victor J. Andrew High School Marching Invitational, the Metamora Band Invitational, and the WIU Marching Band Classic. The Marching Tigers play under the direction of Eric Wellman and Karol Domalik. For more information on the Marching Tigers visit http://www.jolietwestbands.org/marching-tigers.html.