Congratulations on a successful marching season

The Whaler Pride marching band combines traditional marching and competitive drum corps style with a show band attitude. The Whaler show includes challenging drill and visual effects with contemporary music that audiences enjoy.

The New London High School Band is known for working hard and having fun in the process. It is for this reason that the band is more than just a class or a group of students; the band is more like a family. The students learn about music, being responsible, how to manage their time, but they also have the support of their fellow musicians, and our staff whether it be music related or otherwise. This year's marching band staff include the following:

Scott Morgan - Band Director

Candace Grous - Assistant Director

Tom Buckholt - Band Booster President

Since the group can be a large one at times it is necessary for students to share the responsibilty for the success of this organization. It is for this reason that students are given the opportunity to become leaders. The band is headed by the director and its staff but student leaders include the drum major, head drill instructor and section leaders. Students that are not appointed to those roles show their own leadership by setting the example of hard work and a positive attitude. This years student leaders include the following:

Emily Varley - Drum Major

Connor Nee  - Head Drill Instructor

Nora Greene - Flute Section leader

Andrea Almonte - Clarinet Section Leader

Frankie Andrews  - Saxophone Section Leader

Atiq Braggs - Trumpet Section Leader

Shamonique Costley - Horn Section Leader

Jerry Medina - Trombone Section Leader

Connor Nee - Tuba Section Leader

Madison Nee - Baritone Section Leader

Carlos Ortiz - Percussion Section Leader

Marching band begins August 18 with band camp (see below) and ends in Early November. Rehearsals are Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 2:30 to 4:30, August 29th through November 7th (see calendar). Rehearsals are designed to coordinate the wind, percussion and color guard with the drill on the field. These after school rehearsals are part of the participation grade.

The marching band represents NLHS and therefore will attend and perform at home football games. A typical game day will begin with a rehearsal prior to the game (around 10:00 am) followed by a short break before dressing in uniform for the game. Games will begin tyically at 1:30 and end around 3:00. The dates of the home games are Sep. 20, 27 and October 25.

Typical marching band competitions also begin with a rehearsal (around 2:00) followed by a short break before dressing in uniform. The band will travel together by bus to the competition, which will generally last until approximately 9:00 pm. The band will also return together by bus.

Band camp begins a week before school starts from 10 am to 4 pm August 18 through 22. Band camp is designed to teach students basic marching skills as well as music that is to be performed during the marching season. Part of band camp will be conducted outside on the field and part will be held inside the building. It is very important that students attend band camp since it is the only opportunity for such high intense instruction without other diversions of student academic obligations. This is also an opportunity for students to meet with other students and begin the bonding that makes our band program more of a family than a class. It is also during this time that percussion and wind parts will be assigned and instruments will be issued.