norwin takes first at bands of america eastern - Norwin School District
norwin takes first at bands of america eastern - Norwin School District
norwin takes first at bands of america eastern - Norwin School District
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September 26, 2011<br />
NORWIN SCHOOL DISTRICT NEWS RELEASE<br />
CONTACT: Jon<strong>at</strong>han Szish, Coordin<strong>at</strong>or <strong>of</strong> <strong>School</strong> and Community Rel<strong>at</strong>ions, 724-861-3000 ext. 1150<br />
NORWIN TAKES FIRST AT BANDS OF AMERICA EASTERN REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP<br />
Next Steps: Regional Championship October 15, and N<strong>at</strong>ional Championship November 10, 2011<br />
NORTH HUNTINGDON – <strong>Norwin</strong> High<br />
<strong>School</strong>’s marching band earned <strong>first</strong> place<br />
overall <strong>at</strong> the Bands <strong>of</strong> America Eastern<br />
Regional Championship held September<br />
24, 2011 <strong>at</strong> <strong>Norwin</strong> Knights Stadium. The<br />
<strong>Norwin</strong> Knights Marching Band also<br />
collected a number <strong>of</strong> other honors <strong>at</strong> the<br />
competition, which <strong>at</strong>tracted 16 <strong>bands</strong> from<br />
Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Virginia, Ohio,<br />
and North Carolina.<br />
With S<strong>at</strong>urday’s regional championship<br />
victory, <strong>Norwin</strong> is the only band in the<br />
country to have won a Bands <strong>of</strong> America<br />
regional championship in each <strong>of</strong> the last<br />
five decades, according to Mr. Robert<br />
Traugh, <strong>Norwin</strong> band director.<br />
―It’s always exciting,‖ Mr. Traugh said.<br />
―Our 2011-2012 program is still growing<br />
and probably won’t be finished until<br />
November, but it’s nice for our students to<br />
experience some valid<strong>at</strong>ion <strong>of</strong> their<br />
efforts.‖<br />
<strong>Norwin</strong> High <strong>School</strong>’s Marching Band won <strong>first</strong> place <strong>at</strong> the Bands<br />
<strong>of</strong> America Eastern Regional Championship, held S<strong>at</strong>urday,<br />
September 24, 2011 <strong>at</strong> <strong>Norwin</strong> Knights Stadium.<br />
Before a capacity crowd, the <strong>Norwin</strong> band performed its 8-minute competitive show, which combines Salv<strong>at</strong>ion is<br />
Cre<strong>at</strong>ed by Pavel Tchesnokov with Igor Stravinsky’s Firebird ballet, for a new result the <strong>Norwin</strong> band calls<br />
Salv<strong>at</strong>ion. The music starts with powerful, dissonant, and somber sounds, and moves to hopeful and joyful by the<br />
show’s end. The ensemble turns the field into a piece <strong>of</strong> artwork by moving props th<strong>at</strong> are seemingly unrel<strong>at</strong>ed to<br />
cre<strong>at</strong>e an aesthetically pleasing picture by the end <strong>of</strong> the show.<br />
After the evening show concluded, Bands <strong>of</strong> America judges announced the final winners, as follows:<br />
1. <strong>Norwin</strong> High <strong>School</strong><br />
2. Bridgew<strong>at</strong>er-Raritan High <strong>School</strong> (N.J.)<br />
3. James Madison High <strong>School</strong> (Virginia)<br />
4. G<strong>at</strong>eway High <strong>School</strong><br />
5. Clayton High <strong>School</strong> (North Carolina)<br />
6. Brunswick High <strong>School</strong> (Ohio)<br />
7. Penn-Trafford High <strong>School</strong><br />
8. Trinity High <strong>School</strong> (Washington, PA)<br />
9. South Lakes High <strong>School</strong> (Virginia)<br />
10. Maplewood High <strong>School</strong> (Erie)<br />
Seven Bands <strong>of</strong> America judges traveled from across America, including California and Texas, to be <strong>at</strong> <strong>Norwin</strong><br />
S<strong>at</strong>urday. The judges evalu<strong>at</strong>ed visual effect, musical effect, general effect, and other c<strong>at</strong>egories. Judges awarded<br />
<strong>Norwin</strong> High <strong>School</strong> <strong>first</strong> place overall, and also awarded the Knights’ performance with <strong>first</strong>-place honors in the<br />
c<strong>at</strong>egories <strong>of</strong> High Music, High General Effect, and High Visual Effect.<br />
Mr. Traugh credited the work <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Norwin</strong> Band-Aides, which helped Bands <strong>of</strong> America oper<strong>at</strong>e S<strong>at</strong>urday’s event.<br />
―Our entire organiz<strong>at</strong>ion — from students, to parents, to alumni — was out there on S<strong>at</strong>urday,‖ Mr. Traugh said.
Dr. William Kerr, <strong>Norwin</strong>’s Superintendent <strong>of</strong> <strong>School</strong>s, provided opening remarks <strong>at</strong> S<strong>at</strong>urday’s championship, and<br />
congr<strong>at</strong>ul<strong>at</strong>ed all the <strong>bands</strong> in <strong>at</strong>tendance for representing ―the best and the brightest <strong>of</strong> our youth and wh<strong>at</strong> is good<br />
about our country.‖ He noted the strong correl<strong>at</strong>ion between the performing arts and high academic achievement.<br />
―The <strong>Norwin</strong> <strong>School</strong> <strong>District</strong> is recognized n<strong>at</strong>ionally for supporting and advancing music educ<strong>at</strong>ion and the<br />
performing arts,‖ said Superintendent William Kerr. ―It is an allegiance based on tradition and community pride and a<br />
commitment to academic excellence and music educ<strong>at</strong>ion in our schools. It is pride in our past and faith in our future<br />
th<strong>at</strong> sustains our music educ<strong>at</strong>ion program.‖<br />
This is the second consecutive year <strong>Norwin</strong> has been honored to host this event.<br />
The next stop for <strong>Norwin</strong> High <strong>School</strong> is the Bands <strong>of</strong> America Regional Championship S<strong>at</strong>urday, October 15, 2011<br />
<strong>at</strong> InfoCision Stadium in Akron, Ohio. After th<strong>at</strong>, <strong>Norwin</strong> High <strong>School</strong> will compete <strong>at</strong> the Bands <strong>of</strong> America Grand<br />
N<strong>at</strong>ional Championship in Indianapolis, Indiana, from November 10 through 12, 2011. This is recognized as the<br />
premier marching band event in the n<strong>at</strong>ion. <strong>Norwin</strong> was named Bands <strong>of</strong> America Grand N<strong>at</strong>ional Champion in 1982.<br />
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