Heights Marching Band hits a high note
The 85-member Cleveland Heights High School marching band is back on the field, entertaining audiences at football halftime at Heights Crawford Field. The band is directed by Brett Baker. He is assisted by elementary school instrumental teacher Robert Adamson, percussion specialists Dan Allie, Larry Smith and 2010 CHHS graduate Alphonso Davis.
Three students assist as band managers. Drum majors this year are Hailey Nowacek and Caitlyn McGaugh. Section sergeants are seniors Catherine Holt, Diana Drushel, Jon Tarnay, Paul Stroud, Michael Heard, head sousaphonist Eli Wildey and head percussionist Gordon Gustafson.
The season began in August with two-week band camp, where the members learned pregame, stand tunes, marching, and the halftime routine. This year’s routine features songs by Earth, Wind and Fire, including "In the Stone", "September", "Fantasy" and "Let’s Groove."
The officers worked hard this year to introduce fun activities and section and freshmen awards for group motivation and bonding. The band dance committee, led by Camille Harris, developed and taught the band dance for halftime. The band is now beginning to learn a new routine for the second half of the season.
“This is the best marching band season since I have been here,” said drum major Hailey Nowacek. “It has been a lot of fun. The officers have done more than expected to work as a team.” Manager Shoshanna Klein agrees, The officers are really working well together.”
“This has been a fantastic group to work with,” said assistant director Robert Adamson. “The student leadership is phenomenal. They are always doing something productive, even while waiting for instructions from the directors. Many of them have even gone beyond the class rehearsal time and run independent sectionals on their own time.”
The marching band performs at all home football games, two away games-Bedford and Euclid-and the Memorial Day ceremony in the spring.
Joan Drushell, a Cleveland Heights resident, is the mother of two Heights High graduates, and a current senior and freshman.