By Jacob Stalnaker
Round Table Reporter
The Middletown High School marching band, know as the Marching Knights, have had a great 2012 season so far, which included 1st place at their biggest competition, The James Madison University Parade of Champions.
It all began when the rankings were done being announced at the Knights first competition, held in Germantown, MD.
There, a huge chorus of applause erupted from the Middletown High School section.
For the second year in a row, The Marching Knights gained first place in their division at the Germantown, Md competition.
“Our show is composed with music from… the era of the Civil War,” says Middletown director of bands, Matthew Shearer. “It tells a story through music— a story that honors the soldiers, past and present.”
The Civil War is already a record-holder in the history of the Marching Knights, and the season is not over yet.
The high rankings can’t be credited on the talent of the musicians and dancers alone. The skill of show writers, Shearer and Dee Buchannan, is also a major factor.
These two have coordinated numerous top ranking Marching Knight shows, including The Lion King (2004), Rhapsody in Blue (2005), Las Vegas (2006), The Divine Comedy (2007), The Incredibles (2008) and The Gridiron (2011), last year’s football themed show.
The joy of first place was repeated on Sept. 29 in Herndon, VA and on Oct. 13 in Gaithersburg, MD where the band grabbed all awards possible.
Current drum line instructor Ethan Lichtenberger was a part of the band from 2004-06. Since he’s been back as in an instructor he’s noticed the band has a “higher level of musicianship.”
According to Lichtenberger, “The members of the band… musicians and dancers… seem like they have much more fun than [his] generation ever did. It looks a lot more like a family.”
This year’s show, The Civil War, is a “tribute to the heroes of our nations defining war.” A medley of period songs prelude the short battle scene, which is followed by a bone chilling performance of Taps by senior Lacey Guyton and sophomore Rachelle Miller.
Senior Ryan Nau rounds off the solemn moment with the Battle Hymn of the Republic, joined by the entire band in a moment so powerful that the noisy crowd of the Middletown vs. South Carroll football game on Sept 14 was silenced for a few seconds.
This scene, as described by drum major Clare Diederich is “a tasteful demonstration of an important event in history, and is presented in a way that is refreshing and interesting to those listening.”
“The tone of the band is very good this year,” says Shearer. “They are on their way to an appropriate level of mastery.”
Dance Line instructor Dee Buchannan had high praise for her dancers in the band. “They wear period costumes, which instantly helps convey the image of the Civil War. The dancers show the pain and emotion in the second half of the show on a level unmatched by others.”
On Oct. 15, the Marching Knights performed along with the other bands of the county at the Frederick County Public Schools marching band festival, held at Oakdale High School.
There, the Marching Knights gained a superior rating, the best you can get.
On Oct. 20, the Marching Knights boarded two tour buses at six in the morning to attend the James Madison University Parade of Champions in Harrisonburg, Va.
After an early performance, the Marching Knights relaxed with a tailgate/picnic. That afternoon, they returned to the stadium for the awards.
And then, to grand applause, the 1st place trophy was handed to Middletown drum major Clare Diederich. The Middletown name was immortalized in Parade of Champion’s history!
Several seniors cried for long minutes after the trophy was awarded, and cannot be blamed. To win the Parade of Champions has been many of their dreams since their freshman year in 2009.
The Dancers also took the award for best dance line and the full band gained the best effect award. The drumline placed second in the running for best drumline.
The Marching Knights will travel to Towson University for the Maryland State Championships on Nov. 3, but until then, all they can do is practice hard and celebrate their accomplishments harder.
