POTTSTOWN PA – The highly acclaimed and championship-winning Pottsgrove Falcons Marching Band will end its season Friday (Nov. 10, 2023), with its members staging a final performance. The event, which starts at 6 p.m. on Pennypacker Field in the high school stadium off School Lane, is open to the public.
The marching band is celebrating its victory as the 2023 American A-Class Champions (at right), during the 64th annual Cavalcade of Bands Marching Band Championships. Pottsgrove dominated the contest, held Nov. 4 (2023; Saturday) in Horsham PA. It involved 17 bands, several of them from significantly larger school districts.
The Falcons’ across-the-board high scores gave them first-place honors in all judging categories: ensemble visuals and music, field music, overall effects in visuals and music, and auxiliary and percussion performances. Having swept every category of the evening, according to Pottsgrove officials, the judges’ final tally gave the Falcons “the highest recorded score in (its) division since the Cavalcade’s inception.”
The district’s Pottsgrove High School Bands page on Facebook makes it clear the marching band enjoyed a high level of support at, and particularly between, competitions. A large number of individual contributors and local businesses opened their wallets for a variety of fund-raisers.
The high school musicians washed cars, filled a calendar with financial pledges, received requested materials donated through online retailers, and attracted support through a Snap.com Raise campaign. The money collected is intended to help the band buy a new vibraphone, other marching instruments, and uniforms. All could assist students over a period of up to 15 years.
An excellent season’s work – fueled by the enthusiasm of its audiences, and the generosity of donors and sponsors over several months – prompted planning for Friday’s parting gesture. Pottsgrove Director of Bands Ellie Zerefos encouraged the public to turn out, “catch the show one last time,” and join the band in celebrating a “monumental win.”
Pottsgrove band uniform photo by Travels With The Post