Marching Band Sets Regular Season Scoring Record, Looks Ahead to States

The most destructive snowstorm in recent town history Saturday couldn't keep the Marching band from its U.S. Scholastic Band Association regular season finale in East Brunswick.

The Cutters put on a record-setting performance in their final contest, earning the highest score in school history for a regular season competition -- but it wasn't enough. For the second time this year, the marching band lost out to defending USSBA champion Nazareth Area High School (Pa.).

"This past weekend, our second place finish to national champion Nazareth, while disappointing, also provides inspiration for us to work harder," FLHS band director Paul Kafer said in a press release. "Nazareth is an outstanding program, and we respect their excellence immensely. Nevertheless, to put Fair Lawn in the same league with Nazareth is a testament to how hard these kids have been working."

The marching band finished its regular season with four first place finishes, including a sweep at the ; five all-classes caption awards for best music and percussion; and all Group IV caption awards in four of its six events. The Cutters' percussion took best overall in two competitions, including , which featured 20 ensembles.

Kafer is hoping the band can build off one of its best regular seasons in school history and put on a strong showing in the upcoming state and national competitions.

On Saturday, the band travels to Old Bridge, N.J. for the States, and then to Annapolis, Md., on Nov. 12 for the Nationals, where again this year Fair Lawn will be the only Bergen County school represented.

In fact, since the USSBA National Championships format was introduced in 2006, Fair Lawn has been the only school to represent Bergen County as an Open Class band.

“It gets very intense at this juncture,” said Jamie Szeinberg, assistant band director and head  band director at . “The work is demanding, physically, musically and emotionally, but it is also equally rewarding as the thrill of competing at the highest state and national levels is an incredible experience.” 

Over the past decade, the FLHS Marching Band and Color Guard have achieved 10 consecutive national top 13 finishes, and have earned six straight invitations to the United States National Marching Band Championships.

Last year, the band ranked eighth overall nationally in the USSBA circuit and was the Group IV Open class national champion in percussion.