On Saturday, Sept. 28, the Manheim Township Marching Band hosted the 39th annual “Showcase in Sight and Sound” at Gene Kruis Field. The event brought together high school marching bands from across the region, providing students with an opportunity to showcase the themed performances they have been rehearsing for several months. Each band’s performance featured a set of three to five songs accompanied by choreography.
Organized by the Pennsylvania Marching Band Coalition (PAMBC), showcases like this provide a platform for non-competitive bands to perform in a judged setting. PAMBC’s aim is to foster improvement by offering feedback from trained musical and visual adjudicators without the pressure of rankings or numerical scores. The coalition believes this approach emphasizes personal and team growth while allowing bands to refine their performances in a supportive environment.
The Manheim Township Middle School Concert Band, directed by Scott Siegel, opened the showcase with a performance of the National Anthem and was followed by performances from the following high school bands: JP McCaskey, Delone Catholic, Garden Spot, Solanco and Manheim Township.
Directed by John Johnston, JP McCaskey’s show, titled “The McCaskey Blueprint,” featured popular works from artists such as Jay-Z, Alicia Keys, Rihanna and Beyoncé, and their songs “Public Service Announcement,” “Empire State of Mind,” “Don’t Stop the Music” and “Crazy in Love.”
Delone Catholic‘s program, “Ascent to the Stars,” began with “Ascend” by Samuel Hazo, followed by Gustav Holst’s “Chorale,” and concluded with “Counting Stars” by OneRepublic. Through these songs, director Joe Mumment strived to create a space-themed musical showcase.
Garden Spot’s 2024 show, titled “Agent 54” and directed by Katherine Bennici, presented a narrative centered around espionage. The performance unfolded in three parts, depicting the progression and suspense of a mission.
With their show, “The Piano Studio” director Scott A. Weyman led the Solanco High School Marching Band on a trip down memory lane with renditions of classic piano pieces. The band performed “Ludwig and Wolfgang,” “Clair De Lune,” a swing version of “Knuckle Concerto” and “Chopstix.”
The Manheim Township Marching Band brought the showcase to a close with a performance of their seasonal show, “Color Our World,” also directed by Scott Siegel. Their musical selections included “Color My World” by Chicago, “Mr. Blue Sky” by the Electric Light Orchestra, “The Malagueña” by Ernesto Lecuona, “Nights in White Satin” by The Moody Blues and “Paint it, Black” by The Rolling Stones.
“Color Our World” will be performed by MT during each football game throughout the 2024 season.
