Two-tenths separates field band from championship

Members of the 2007 Greencastle-Antrim High School Field Band completed another very successful season. Kacie Oberholzer performs with her flag.

HERSHEY - Just two-tenths of one point separated the Greencastle Antrim High School Field Band from the American Conference Open championship in the Cavalcade of Bands Championships Sunday.

Susquehannock, the only band to defeat the local group in regular competitions this season, scored a 95.3 to win the championship. GA scored 95.1 for second.

The top two bands tied with the judges for high visual effect. Susquehannock won high overall effect and high color guard, while G-A was scored high music, high percussion and most improved.

Nine other bands competed in the category as follows: 3. Plymouth Whitemarsh, 92.55; 4. Conestoga Valley, 91.05; 5. Conrad Weiser, 90.95; 6. Blue Mountain, 87.9; 7. Delsea Regional, 87.7; 8. Annville Cleona, 87.15; 9. Eastern York, 85.8; 10. Littlestown, 85.5; 11. York Catholic, 85.45.

This year's G-A band consists of 50 members and is under the command of drum majors Peter Mowen and Diana Stottlemyer. Band student leaders are Steven Asbill, Matt Catron, Amy Crider, Amanda Dorwart, Kyle Florentine, Randall Gates, Hannah Izer, Ricky McClain, Malorie Olivier and Dave Sipes along with assistant drum major, Tyler Pine. The guard captains are Kacie Oberholzer, rifle captain and RaeAnne Lauffer, flag captain.

The band has a long tradition of excellence in field band competition, which includes being a five-time Chapter VI Champion as well as an 11-time Atlantic Coast Finalist. Most recent honors include the 2001 USSBA 2-A Champion, 2003 USSBA 2-A Pennsylvania State Champion, 2004 USSBA 2-Open Champion, 2005 Independence Open Champion of Cavalcade of Bands while finishing in second place in the 2006 American Conference Championships of Cavalcade of Bands.

Its 2007 presentation is entitled "Into the Raging River" which featured music from "Riverdance" as well as Steven Reineke's "Into the Raging River." Opening the show was a medley from "Riverdance" featuring "Cloudsong," "Riverdance," "The Heart's Cry," "Women of the Sidhe" and "Andalucia." Concluding the show was "Into the Raging River" which depicted the thrill of running the rapids and plunging over the falls.

Featured soloists were: Kyle Florentine - trumpet, Dave Sipes - trombone, Matt Catron - trumpet, Jennie Sipes - mellophone, Kacie Oberholzer - guard, Chelsea Johnson - guard and Lauffer - guard.

This year's band staff consists of: Band Director - Samuel Forney; Assistant Band Director - Rod Walters; Percussion Instructors - Brock Bricker, Josh De Frank, Laura Myers and Matt Wolfe; Percussion Arrangers - Christopher Arnold and Alex Randall; Guard Instructors - Kelly Bouder and Jay Wetzel; Drill Designer - Richard Boandl.

The final outdoor performance for the G-A band will be in the Saturday's, Nov. 17, Greencastle Christmas Parade that begins at 9:21 a.m.