The Centennial High School Marching Knights swelled to more than 200 performers on Sept. 20 when nearly 100 middle school musicians sat in during the school’s homecoming football game. The 8th graders are students at Centennial feeder schools Haynes Bridge Middle School and Holcomb Bridge Middle School.
Michael Reid is Centennial’s Director of Bands, Dr. Christine Chang directs the Haynes Bridge Middle School band, and Christine Pobursky directs the Holcomb Bridge Middle School band. The joint appearance is not only an opportunity for the 8th graders to improve their playing skills, it is also an important recruiting tool for the high school band.
“Under the batons of Dr. Chang and Ms. Pobursky, these 8th graders practiced for weeks to perform the Star-Spangled Banner, Centennial’s fight song and stand music,” said Mr. Reid. “When it came time to perform under the lights alongside the Marching Knights, they really impressed the marching band members, their parents and the fans.”
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The future high school musicians also enjoyed a sideline view of the Knights’ halftime show, which is titled “Anatomy of a Great Musical.” The program includes selections from Les Miserables, Phantom of the Opera, West Side Story, and Hairspray, and features solo performances and even a dance sequence involving band and color guard members. The group is preparing to perform in two competitions later this season.
The students will be performing together again, along with 7th graders, when the three schools present a Cluster Concert on Thursday, Nov. 7 at 7 p.m. in the Centennial High School Auditorium.
