It's Band Camp Time for Marching Mustangs

It happens every August on Lunn Road: Two weeks of whistles, flags, varying weather conditions, megaphone instructions and, of course, marching on the hot asphalt at . 

Band Camp kick-starts the Marching Mustangs season.

Dave Harbart, in his 25^th year as band director, says the band, at 285 members, puts its size as one of the top four high school marching bands in northeast Ohio.

As it stands, the group will be performing at the five home football games.  When asked what the half-time crowd can expect this season, Harbart said directors look for “good sounding arrangements and build the shows around them. We like to use music that the crowd is familiar with.” 

Entertaining the crowd is the goal -- and that includes the "trombone suicide" squad. These brave musicians stand in close proximity and carefully sync their arm movements so as not to smack the musician next to them with their instrument. Harbart said participating in it is completely voluntary!

And those drum majors –- that’s an honor reserved only for seniors.  Hannah Patten, one of this year’s trio, said they won their spots after a spring tryout that had a pool of 14 other marching band members. In addition, they serve as student conductors for a portion of each half-time show.

The flag team is yet another component of the marching band.  It varies in size from year to year based on the ability of the band members that choose to try out.  According to co-captain Lauren Macatangay, the team practices daily and she and the other captains take on the responsibility of choreographing most of the routines. 

Overseeing the team is Terri Harbart, in her 22^nd year as an assistant band director. She said the team, “is the visual to match the marching band’s sound. We accentuate what the other members are doing.” 

At the conclusion of band camp and the start of the school year, the instrumental groups meet separately in a daily class and then together for two sessions outside of the school day. 

Beside football games, the band appears in the city’s homecoming and Memorial Day parades and participates in a band festival in October. Harbart chooses not to enter the band into any competitions because he’d have to reduce the band size and increase rehearsal time. 

He says the current level of commitment “fits into (the students) lives and marching band is really all about entertaining the crowd.”

Every two or three years, the band takes a big road trip; last year they traveled to Florida. They’ll be staying close to home this season.

Check out the marching band’s half-time show at the first home football game when the Mustangs take on Lake Catholic at Pat Catan Stadium on Friday, Aug. 26 at 7 p.m. 

• Strongsville City Schools and Sts. Josephs and John administration, faculty, club advisors and student officers are encouraged to submit information for “Extra Credit” including upcoming events, photos, etc.  Let us know what’s going on!

Contact Sharon Galvan:  galvan.patch@roadrunner.com