Every 2018 HHS marching band performer involved in the music program this year undoubtedly has the following introductory narration, which is uttered in an iconic guttural voice, drilled into their heads:

“In early 1735, deep in the heart of the pine barrens, a cruel woman known as Mother Leeds learned she was to give birth to her 13 child. In disgust and despair, at the news of the unwanted baby, Mother Leeds raised her hands to the heavens and cursed the child proclaiming, “Let this one be a devil!”

The culprit at fault here for causing these students to place their undivided attention on this peculiar narrator’s voice, speaking of the Jersey Devil, would be none other than the school’s music program and staff.

The Hammonton High School Blue Devils Marching Band has practiced this season’s show over thirty-six hours each week. Each practice brings the band closer to first place at the competitions, and with that, closer to the top of the overall ranking list of group 2A bands. With determination, dedication, and perseverance, the band will surely have the opportunity to reach for the stars this season.

Band director, Mr. Tim White, has announced his views on the current band season and many more to come. He foresees the love and passion for music expanding and growing amongst his students, as well as larger numbers of members in the future. Just this year alone, compared to 2017, the concert band program nearly doubled in size, going from 48 students to a whopping 87. He believes wholeheartedly that the season is going very well and that he continues to be a positive role model for his second family. Mr. Tim White strives to teach all of his students what it’s like to put in hard work, cooperate as a team, understand things such as camaraderie and friendship, etc. He knows in his soul that music is for all students and thinks that it’s extremely important for all of them to experience that.

Several interviews were held of a handful of marching band seniors all from various sections, where they were asked the same questions as Mr. White, which would include the following: “How is the season going so far, what section are you apart of and how do you influence the band, and last but most certainly not least, where do you envision the program going in upcoming years?”

David Childs, who plays the tenor drums, is an inspiring and humorous member of the drumline. He is aware that there’s been a few rough spots here and there, such as there are with any family; however, they can pull out of it if they focus on working together and compromising with one another.

Childs remarked that we’re not in the top 10 (as of this interview, we are now apparently ranked 6 according to TOB-Info.net after this Saturday’s past competition), yet we are in a good place and are striving for a higher ranking. He hopes that the band is, as he said, “stacked” in the future, meaning that the marching band program gets more members joining.

Being apart of Tournament of Bands is ridiculously cheaper; therefore, purchasing more new uniforms and better equipment sounds right up David’s alley.

Anthony O’Donnell, who is the percussion property manager, believes that they are doing good and is more than glad that they haven’t received last place yet in any of our first few competitions.

He strongly feels that the band can rank higher, and with that, even have the ability to get to the first rank slot eventually. O’Donnell envisions the marching band getting nothing but bigger and better, complete with more talent and more championships. His influence on the band program is to ensure all of the pit equipment is together and set up correctly.

Katie Weikle, a senior in the color guard, helps other members with flag work, movements in dance, and collecting everyone’s focus when it’s time to get things done. Many people look up to Katie because of her gargantuan influence on their lives and how much support she provides them all with. She believes that the season is also going good, although she wishes there was more of a sense of respect going from one color guard member to the next, to the musicians, to the other peers in school not apart of the program. Weikle thinks that they have room to reach even higher, especially the color guard, for they can always improve if they put in the work, no matter how far into the season. Katie sees the band program becoming either slightly smaller or slightly bigger; she hopes it ends up being the latter.

Bianca Erkman, who plays first mellophone, helps get other council members in order. She thinks the season is going okay, and that they are in a good ranking. Erkman believes that if they put in more work, the band definitely has a chance to be at the very top. She sees the program progressing in the future, just a tad smaller in size, and stated that they potentially will be successful.

Kyre Monroe, who is first snare, has a pretty great influence on the drumline and in the marching band as a whole. He thinks that they have had an interesting season so far and mentioned they have gotten 2nd place consistently (apparently up until the most recent competition, where it was originally announced that there was a tie for first, yet TOB then announced later that Hammonton had won first right down to the hair). Monroe envisions the band program improving with time.

Jena Wiese, who plays second mellophone, is the librarian of the marching band, meaning her duty is to organize sheet music and pass it out accordingly to the appropriate sections. Wiese enjoys teaching other members pole work, for in part 3 of the show, all of the musicians place down their instruments in the grass, only to join the color guard in some kind of pole war. She thinks our rank is decent and sees the band program shrinking in years to come.

Aubrey Martilini, who plays first trumpet, is the marching band president this year. She is definitely someone that the band looks up to and believes that the current season is going fine. Martilini stated that she sees the marching band shrinking as well, just as Jena had previously stated.

Despite the thoughts of the marching band getting smaller in the future according to a few of the interviews, it is still a well-supported hope that the music program will flourish. Yearly recruitment is incredulously important for achieving higher numbers in the band because once one person hears about it, it’s like the domino effect, and soon, many individuals want to join the large family, all while simultaneously making Hammonton High School and the practice field their beloved and cherished second home. The HHS Marching Blue Devils will be performing this week at the home football games allotted halftime on Friday, October 5th at the football field, as well as on Saturday, October 6th at Toms River High School at approximately 12:30 pm. Come out and support the HHS Marching Band’s hard work and dedication to portray the spine-tingling legend of the Jersey Devil!