Tiger Band’s Fall Show a Ray of Sunshine

Unusual show is ‘festive, happy, a celebration of life,’ says band director

By Bonnijean Cooney Adams
The Tube City Almanac
August 16, 2021
Posted in: Entertainment, McKeesport and Region News

Some of the Tiger Band musicians prepare to step off during a short break from intermittent heavy rain during their annual camp. (Bonnijean Cooney Adams photo for Tube City Almanac)

 
A giant sun prop stage in the middle of the field will be featured when McKeesport Area High School Marching Band kicks off its 2021 season with a return to competitions, festivals, and home and away football game performances.

“We wanted it to be exciting, festive, happy, a celebration of life,” band director Drew DeCarlo said of the “SOLARbration!” theme.

Band booster Mark St. Clair designed the sun prop, with painting by Anna Chapell.

A trailer for the show in May on the band’s YouTube site showcased how different cultures throughout history have celebrated the sun. “After last year (with COVID-related performance restrictions and other difficulties), we wanted something very different,” DeCarlo said. “There is a lot of percussion, even a rainforest-like sound.”

When it pours down rain during band camp, you have to improvise. The percussion section continued camp onstage at the high school, while the rest of the band and color guard moved practice inside at Founders' Hall Middle School.

The composer is Randall D. Standridge, who has written music used in other McKeesport marching band shows, with Ryan Raible as drill designer, and Mario Schwartz as color guard designer.

Other adult staff members are color guard director Kelley Larson, Victoria Palmero, Joe Scifo, Keith Parton, Joe Diamond and Jesse Bush.

Staff and students demonstrated their versatility as weather conditions, including heavy rain, wind, heat, and high humidity, forced practice sessions inside – and back out – and even inside again.

One day alone, the percussion section rehearsed in the high school auditorium on the stage, while the rest of the band retreated to Founders’ Hall Middle School’s cafeteria to continue practicing the music. Color guard was in the same building, but rehearsing separately in the gym.

Tiger Marching Band student leaders are Tristen Ackerman, Josh Wos, Brianna Schmidt, Luciano Lanz, Hannah St. Clair and Tina Wos. (Bonnijean Cooney Adams photo for Tube City Almanac)

Student leaders say they are excited for the challenges in the music and theme, and are looking forward to competing again.

“We needed something positive,” in contrast to the darkness in last year’s show (“An Ancient Summoning”), junior Hannah St. Clair said. “It’s very fast paced.”

“I think it’s a really good comeback,” agreed sophomore Tina Wos, a fellow flute player. “Everything is completely opposite. The best thing is it is unexpected, with the big, bright, yellow stage.”

Brianna Schmidt is a junior trumpet player. She characterized the show as “definitely more upbeat,” joining other student leaders in commenting about the challenges of playing music in an unusual time signature in the third song.

Hannah St. Clair said she thinks once students became more familiar with that music, they became comfortable and confident with it.

Senior drum major Josh Wos said, “The entire band is really involved in this production.”

He said audiences will see a very different kind of production, citing the use of Boomwhackers as an example. They are hollow, plastic tubes that are part of the percussion family, tuned to a musical pitch.

A portion of “SOLARBRATION!” has a tribal effect, according to students and the YouTube description, yet there are contrasts, too.

Luciano Lanz is the assistant drum major, a junior who plays tuba. He said part of the music and show bring to mind “butterflies and flowers,” which Hannah Sinclair likened to a lyrical number.

Lanz said the production definitely has a wow factor that will have members of the audience on the edge of their seats.

“This is probably the year we progressed the most,” said senior mellophone player Tristen Ackerman, reflecting on his four years with the organization.

Members of the color guard, who were present at one of the early band camp practices moved inside because of the weather, unanimously agreed the most challenging part for them at that point was the drill.

Color guard director Larson said her goal for the squad is “for them to be able to perform their best show yet, and all going back to normal.”

“This is shaping up to be a fantastic season,” DeCarlo said. “Everything is going great. The students are all working hard and are excited about away football games and the return of competitions.”

Bonnijean Cooney Adams is a freelance contributor. She can be reached at adamsclick@aol.com.

Despite heavy rains, high heat, wind, and humidity during band camp on Aug. 10, these members of McKeesport Area High School color guard were enthusiastic about learning the new show. From left, in front, are Bella Fischer and Savia Kawalski. In back are Ashley Slagle, Nya O'Neal and Taryn Vasquez. (Bonnijean Cooney Adams photo for Tube City Almanac)

The school district's maintenance department built the new tower for the marching band's practice area. (Bonnijean Cooney Adams photo for Tube City Almanac)

McKeesport High School Marching Band

2021 Public Exhibition and Competition Schedule

Penn-Trafford Tournament of Bands Competition
Saturday, Sept. 11
 
East Allegheny Tournament of Bands Competition
Saturday, Sept. 18

Pennsylvania Interscholastic Marching Band Association Competition
Yough High School
Saturday, Sept. 25
 
Mountain State Forest Festival
Tournament of Bands Show
Buchannon Upshur High School
Elkins, West Virginia
Saturday, Oct. 9
 
McKeesport Area High School Home Show
Featuring high school and college bands
Saturday, Oct. 16
 
Tournament of Bands Championships
Penn-Trafford High School
Saturday, Oct. 23
 
The band also will be featured during home and away football games.

Originally published August 16, 2021.

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