Arts & Entertainment
The Cougars Go Marching Home
Looking back at the Columbia Marching Band 2010 season—and 20 years with the retiring tour bus
What started during the heat of August on Ritzer Field at Columbia High School, ended on a cold, sleety, rainy and, yes, even snowy day at Lynn V. Profeta Field, as the CHS Marching Band wrapped up an exciting and exhausting season.
The band gave the final on-the-field performance of its 2010 Program "Spanish Fantasy" at the Football team's November 13 playoff game against Bridgewater-Raritan.
The band members battled in their final competition at the Northern States Competition in Allentown, PA on November 7.
Find out what's happening in South Orangefor free with the latest updates from Patch.
They also took the time to celebrate their season and friendships at their 2010 Annual Awards Dinner held on the campus of Seton Hall University on Sunday, November 21.
On Thanksgiving Day, the band played its stand program as the Cougar football team defeated Irvington in an exciting 26-21 nail biter.
Find out what's happening in South Orangefor free with the latest updates from Patch.
The Marching Band also took the time to say goodbye to their retiring equipment bus after a sterling 20-plus year career. Present band members, as well as Marching Band alumni home from college for Thanksgiving break, took the time to sign their names and leave messages on the body of the bus.
The band logged numerous miles, both on the practice field as well on the roads and highways on that bus. They performed at six competitions this fall, traveling as far as Allentown, Pennsylvania for the Northern States Competition, where they were able to finally outscore rival Nutley High School. The Marching Band also played at more than a half dozen football games.
Highlights included a 1st Place Victory at North Brunswick, 2nd pace finishes at "Under the Stars" in Randolph and at Mt. Olive, as well as top honors for the Color Guard at Pequannock and Randolph.
The 2010 Marching Band featured 20 freshmen and three 8th graders out of a total of 72 members. Even though the Cougars are losing 15 valuable seniors, the experience the new members gained, as well as the strong cadre of returning sophomores and juniors should make the Cougars a formidable force in 2011.
