Tiger Band Sparks Excitement With Fall Show

MAHS ensemble begins competition Saturday in Penn-Trafford

By Bonnijean Cooney Adams
The Tube City Almanac
September 04, 2025
Posted in: McKeesport and Region News

Antoine Smith returns as drum major for the second year. (Photos by Bonnijean Cooney Adams for Tube City Almanac)

McKeesport Tiger Band 2025 competition schedule:

Sept. 6 at Penn-Trafford
Sept. 13 at East Allegheny
Sept. 20 at Norwin
Sept. 27 at Yough
Oct.11 at McKeesport (Home Show)
Oct. 18: TOB Region 8 Championships at Penn-Trafford
Nov. 2: TOB Atlantic Coast Championships at Hersheypark Stadium

Note: Performance times are announced prior to each competition. McKeesport is scheduled to compete at 7:50 p.m. at Penn-Trafford on Saturday, Sept. 6.

Noah Crawford said he wanted his inaugural show as McKeesport Area Tiger Band’s director to be fairly straightforward for students and audiences to understand while providing lots of energy and a chance to showcase his students’ talents.

After months of planning, the result is “Sparked,” which the group will perform in its first Tournament of Bands competition of the season on Saturday, Sept. 6 at Penn-Trafford High School.

Music is by Randall Standridge and Mo Longo, with the drill by Armon Raygani. The band director said he taught Standridge music at other schools (and McKeesport Area shows have featured his compositions in the past) and with other ensembles with great success.

Percussion section veterans include Geno Sportelli and Elijah Wheeler. (Photo by Bonnijean Cooney Adams for Tube City Almanac)

“The students often love the themes and arrangements of pieces, and Standridge — being a former band director himself — writes in a way that makes his music nearly infinitely adaptable; if I need to make it more challenging and complex for a student, you can do that easily. If you need to make parts easier for other students, you can do the same without sacrificing the quality and intensity of the music itself.”

Crawford said he joined McKeesport Area in October 2024 as a middle school and general music teacher, then transitioned to the high school band director’s position when it became available.

“We started planning this show in January of 2025,” Crawford said. “I was able to bring a few of my ideas and meet some former and returning staff members and learn a little more about the students and their strengths.”

Crawford said while he ultimately made the final thematic and musical selections, “Drew (former high school band director Drew DeCarlo) and color guard director Tori Palermo were huge contributors of ideas and solutions to problems I had.”

The percussion section got some practice time in the shade during one of the 90-plus-degree days of Tiger band camp. (Bonnijean Adams photo for Tube City Almanac)

The band director described “Sparked” as “about electricity and energy. The lights will start on and energetic, then throughout the show they go out as the tone of the music changes, then come right back on and re-energize the ensemble toward the end.

“When I first heard the music we ended up going with, I could see the straight-line path between concept and on-field production,” Crawford said. “And that, coupled with the music providing adequate challenges for all students to overcome, made it an ideal candidate.”

The theme and director aren’t the only things new this year. Eighth-graders were able to join marching band for the first time, which some of the veteran band members approve of, especially as they got to work with the newcomers more during band camp and afterschool practices.

Antoine Smith returns for the second year as drum major. The senior welcomed the addition of eighth-graders not only to boost the number of participants and fill in sections, but to establish a good foundation for the band’s future.

“Honestly, we have a lot of people graduating this year,” Smith said. “It’s a good experience for them and will help them make an easier transition to the high school in ninth grade.”

Although it’s his second year, Smith said, “I’m still constantly learning (“Sparked”) and fixing and adapting it as I go.”

He said his favorite part is in the ending, with syncopated rhythms and “crunchy chords. Choreography-wise, it’s the pop out of the horns and flutter step.”

Anasthasia Bakaturski leads the flute section and is the assistant drum major. (Photo by Bonnijean Cooney Adams for Tube City Almanac)

Anastasia Bakaturski is the assistant drum major and flute section leader. Officially, she said she leads the stretching and is active when they parade. During the show, she displays her talents on flute and experience with drills.

“I did try out to be drum major,” she said, “but am pretty happy with what I am doing. I also help with any problems, such as when students might be struggling.”

Bakaturski said she does not think her part of the music is as challenging as in past years, “but it’s still fun to play!”

Michael Pfeffercorn, in foreground, leads the brass section and is the field conductor. (Photo by Bonnijean Cooney Adams for Tube City Almanac)

Senior Michael Pfeffercorn said he likes the way the students learned the show this year, stopping to fix details right away. As the field conductor, he said he leads the field warmup. This is also his fourth year as brass section captain.

“Mostly, I try to be a positive influence,” Pfeffercorn said. “On the field during band camp especially, it was really hot. What we needed was positivity. I’m very happy with the show.”

Marissa Alberts has experienced the band shows as a trumpet player for two years and a member of color guard for the other two. The senior is wrapping up her high school career with guard.

“It’s a very cool concept,” she said of “Sparked.” “I think guard is doing a lot of interesting things. I like the second song a lot. It sounds really pretty.”

Color guard director Tori Palmero said it’s “much different” for her squad this season.

Clarinet section leader Phoenix Funk is among the band veterans. (Photo by Bonnijean Cooney Adams for Tube City Almanac)

Senior Phoenix Funk, clarinet section leader, described “Sparked” as a “cool show idea.” He said his part of the music is easier than in past years, and applauded the addition of eighth-graders to the program.

Senior Geno Sportelli on drum set said he thought learning the show was going well before the band performed for the parent preview in August. “I’ll wait and find out as it progresses” before the first competition,” he said.

Playing marimba, senior Elijah Wheeler said “the very electric music” is his favorite part.

Band director Crawford said his inspiration for the props came from the transmission towers on the sides of highways that help carry electricity across the country.

“We replaced the power lines with LED rope lights to provide a uniquely energetic addition,” he said. “I have been largely building the props by myself.”

Crawford said the best part of his first McKeesport Tiger Band show venture has been the students. “It’s almost cliche to say at this point,” he said, “but the students are the best part of this whole experience. They are funny when they want to be, but work hard and strive to be their best all the time. I have heard many good things about them, and getting to work with them and see their strengths up close has been a blast.

“Working in the middle school last year meant I got to see what our current eighth-graders were capable of, and coupling that with the fact that many of them had been student helpers with the marching band in the past, it became extremely obvious to me that they love the activity and deserved the opportunity to start before they made it to high school.”

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

Originally published September 04, 2025.

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