Montville High School Marching Band Wins U.S. Championship

The Montville Township High School Marching Band and Field Corps placed first in the nation this fall following an outstanding season. The MTHS Mustang’s Group III A marching band landed the top spot in competition against twenty-seven schools from throughout the United States. The USBands A Class National Championship - III A contest was held Nov. 8 in Allentown, Pa. With a winning score of 96.663, the MTHS Marching Band brought home a trophy that stands nearly 10 feet tall.

This season’s program, Equilibrium, is an original composition written by 2007 MTHS graduate, Taylor Goodson.

According to Band Director, Kenneth Korlishin, “Equilibrium was inspired by the Yin and the Yang. It is a story that explores the balance of life. Whether joyous and good, or solemn and hard, in the end it is a culmination of these experiences that make us who we are.”

The band’s award-winning drill was designed by Andrew Hayward.

Led by 2015-2016 Drum Majors, Robin Lemmerz, a senior, and junior, Kayla Westergaard, along with Guard Captain, Amy Zhu, the MTHS marching band captured first place in five out of seven competitions this fall, including the A Class Championship. The talented musicians and field corps also landed eleven caption awards including four Best Overall Effects awards, three Best Visual awards, two Best Music awards, as well as a Best Color Guard and Best Percussion. The average score for the season was a winning 85.489.

Video of the First Place performance can be viewed on www.Montville.net.

More than four dozen students perform in the MTHS Marching Band and Field Corps. The performers, as well as the band’s leadership, will be honored by the Montville Township Committee at Montville Town Hall, 195 Changebridge Road, Montville, NJ on Monday, December 7, 2015 at 8:30 PM. The accomplishments of the MTHS Marching Band will also be recognized by the Morris County Freeholders in the Public Meeting Room, 5th floor, Administration & Records Building on Wednesday, December 9, at 7:30 PM. The Administration & Records Building is located at 10 Court Street in Morristown, New Jersey.

Captions (Photos by Pam Westergaard)

1:

The 2015-2016 Montville Township High School Marching Band and Field Corps was awarded First in the Nation at the USBands A Class National Championship Group III A competition on November 8, 2015. The MTHS Band bested 27 schools from around the country, and brought home a trophy that is almost ten feet tall. The accomplishments of the MTHS Marching Band students and staff will be honored on December 7 at the Montville Township Committee meeting at Town Hall, and on December 9 at the Morris County Freeholders meeting in Morristown, NJ.

2:

The Color Guard of the Montville Township High School Marching Band helped the award-winning Mustangs to land 1st Place at USBands A Class National Championship in Allentown, PA. Pictured left to right: Erin McGuire (10), Ashley Feng (10), Guard Captain Amy Zhu (12), Natalie Sliwowski (10) and Megan Testa (10)

3:

The Montville Township High School Marching Band and Field Corps placed number one in the nation in competition against twenty-seven schools from throughout the United States. The USBands A Class National Championship - III A contest was held on Sunday, November 8, 2015 in Allentown, Pennsylvania. With a winning score of 96.663, the MTHS Marching Band brought home a trophy that stands nearly ten feet tall.

4:

Montville Township High School Marching Band Drum Majors, junior, Kayla Westergaard, and Robin Lemmerz, a senior, led the MTHS Marching Band and Field Corps to number one in the nation for USBands A Class National Championship - III A marching bands. The band’s winning program was an original composition by 2007 MTHS graduate, Taylor Goodson, entitled, Equilibrium, inspired by the Yin and the Yang.