Marching Band Preview: Pottsgrove

The Pottsgrove High School marching band has something slightly unexpected planned this fall.

"Our theme is 'Carnival and Mardi Gras,'" said Falcons band director Victor Holladay. "We're kind of going out on a limb a little bit with the whole latin jazz feel."

Despite the unusual show, Holladay is not worried about the Falcon's ability to bring the music to life.

"The kids really perform well when it's more of a modern, pop-rock style, so I think they should do really well with this latin jazz feel," he said.

The show will emphasize color, said Holladay, although concrete visuals are not set in stone. Enhancing the color guard to fit the festive theme is one of the director's priorities, while the band's fresh uniforms and equipment trailer will be more than adequate to handle the job.

Pottsgrove will open the show with the popular "Brasil." 

"It's kind of a famous latin jazz piece that people will recognize, if they're into that genre of music," said Holladay. "The second tune is going to be a medley of samba tunes and our closer will be, 'I Go to Rio,' which I think a lot of people will probably recognize since it became sort of a pop tune back in the '60's and '70's."

With a decidedly different flavor this year and more musicians than ever before, Holladay and the Falcons look to leave a mark in competition and under the lights. The Falcons will compete in various local cavalcades and showcases in the region including competitions at neighboring Boyertown and Owen J. Roberts.  The band will also perform in the West Chester Old Fashioned Christmas parade in December.

"It's a corporate sponsored parade," Holladay said. "Over the past several years it has become a very, very big parade."

Holladay anticipates this will be the largest band of his career - he's now in his eighth season at the helm.

"We are going to have close to (50 students) in the marching band, which is very good for us," Holladay said. "Our numbers are continuing to grow each and every year."

While Pottsgrove's senior class earned most of the accolades this season and will be moving on, the maroon and white will still have talent.

"I anticipate us having at least two or three students that make districts this year," said Holladay. He anticipates a strong freshman class will help his band continue on the upward trend he has been shepherding for over half a decade.

"I'm very proud and very pleased of what the band has accomplished in the seven years that I've been here," said Holladay.  "We have achieved a lot of respect and pride among our Pottsgrove colleagues and community and we hope that each Friday, when they come to football games and see our show, it's something that they will be proud of and that they will be able to enjoy."