West Essex Drumline to Perform at Bamboozle

The goal of any teacher is to help their students find something that they are passionate about and then, teach them to work hard so they can become successful at it.  When that happens, it is an amazing feeling for any teacher.  It becomes an even better feeling when one of those students becomes successful at their passion and then wants to come back and help other students find their passion.  I’ve been fortunate enough to see this happen recently.

A former student of mine, Ryan Soroka (West Essex HS class of 2010), was a great student when I had him in band.  As one of the most naturally talented students I have seen, Ryan was not only a member of the drum line, but he was a student that had big dreams.  As long as I’ve known Ryan, I knew he was going to be successful.  He is passionate, hard working, and knows how to work with people of all ages.  This combination of talents and work ethic is what led him to attend the Wharton School of Business, where he just finished his sophomore year.

Ryan always cared deeply about West Essex and the band program that he was a part of.  He knows that these are some of the major influences in his life that have helped shape the person he has become.  That’s why when I received a call from him this past winter, I wasn’t surprised that we were the first people he thought of when he had one of his big ideas.  As a booking manager for the Rutherford based band, Action Item, Ryan is in charge of coordinating all of the bands concerts and tours.  With the band’s new single, “Marching Band,” soon to debut on iTunes, the always creative former student reached out to me in an effort to try and get the West Essex drum line play with Action Item at the Bamboozle Music Festival.  As one of the largest concerts in New Jersey, Bamboozle will see anywhere from 20,000-50,000 fans come through the gates.

With the unwavering support for the band from Superintendent Barbara Longo, Principal Gary Suda, and Vice Principal Juliann Hoebee, they helped make this event happen.  Plans were then put in place to have Action Item and the West Essex drum line perform on this huge stage. 

With the concert occurring on May 20, the drum line got to rehearse with Action Item at a recording studio in Rockaway.  Students Jason Barsanti, Michael Colavita, Daniel Ganton, Vinnie Iannone, Victoria Limongelli, Kelly Scheper, and Anderson Wang worked closely Action Item and saw first hand the creative process that goes into making a great live show. The band just finished touring with chart topping band Hot Chelle Rae and wanted to something to make them stand out at Bamboozle.  Having a live drum line perform Bamboozle will do that for them.  Before the rehearsals, nobody knew what to expect mixing these two groups, but it was amazing to see every students face light up the first time we ran through the song with the band.  The song sounded awesome with the drum line.  It was one of those moments that you remember for the rest of your life. 

Everyone left the first rehearsal eager for Bamboozle.  I don’t know who was more excited; the students for getting to rehearse with an amazing band, or Action Item for having a live marching band perform with them.  As a teacher, it was remarkable to see the collaboration between these two groups.  After two more rehearsals, the two groups have really bonded and are ready to perform.  When they walk on stage and see thousands of fans cheering for them, the performance at Bamboozle will be one of the highlights of these students lives, a moment that will be etched in their minds forever.  It’s just been a great feeling to have been a part of this whole process and be able to make this experience happen for a great group of kids.