Arts & Entertainment

Marching band reaches new heights at Mid-Atlantic Regionals

Nandini Kuppachi, Arts Editor

November 1, 2024

The Bridgewater-Raritan High School (BRHS) Marching Band took the field to perform their 2024 show, “Journey to the Bottom of the Sea”, at Rutgers University’s SHI Stadium on October 26. The band performed not once, but twice in both preliminary and finals performances.

Performing at noon as the second band to take the field for the competition, the BRHS Marching Band performed in their second Bands of America (BOA) Mid-Atlantic Regional competition. Competing bands came from several different states, including Virginia, Pennsylvania and North Carolina.

The percussionists set a foundation for the performance.

Similar to their regional competition at the University of Delaware, the BRHS Marching Band placed third in the division (AAAA), competing alongside other high schools such as John P. Stevens High School, Elizabeth High School and Cleveland High School from North Carolina, who placed first in the aforementioned division. The Marching Band earned these placements with a score of 71.6 in the preliminary round.

The Marching Band can be seen next at their culminating performance of the season at the New Jersey Marching Band Directors Association (NJMBDA) finals, located at The College of New Jersey (TCNJ) on November 3.

At Rutgers on October 26, all of the bands that performed at the competition were given a place in finals, which gave the BRHS a second chance to perform and improve upon their show. Finals began at 7:45 p.m. on the same day.

In the finals, the band placed 10th overall out of 14 bands with a score of 73.55, a two-point improvement from earlier in the day. This was both a score and placement improvement from previous year’s performance at the same regional, where the band qualified for finals and earned a score of 73.0, placing 11th out of 12 bands.

Many different elements made up the marching band’s “Journey to the Bottom of the Sea” performance.

The BRHS Marching Band is extremely proud of their improved score and successful performance at their second and final BOA regional of the 2024 season. The continual trend of improvement exemplifies the promise the band has made into refining their show and striving for their maximum potential as a team on the field.

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About the Contributor

Nandini Kuppachi, Arts Editor

Nandini Kuppachi, a junior at BRHS, is currently an Arts Editor for The Prowler and has been writing for the paper since her freshman year. She has written a wide range of articles, focusing on school events like club activities and marching band competitions; her work has been featured on the school website. By focusing on insightful writing and highlighting the BR community, she brings school events to life for readers of The Prowler. She is excited to continue contributing to the vibrant culture of the school community and expanding her horizons. As she looks ahead, she’s eager to deepen her skills and explore new topics. Outside of The Prowler, Nandini enjoys playing percussion, volunteering at special needs events and hanging out with friends.