The Niles Star

Host Niles High School earns 1 in District 6 marching festival

Niles hosted 13 bands Oct. 7 for the annual District 6 Southwestern Michigan Band and Orchestra Association (SWMBOA) Marching Band Festival.

Niles High School
Marching Band – I

Director: Steven Gruver, assisted by Christina Gibson and Keith Hiscott.
Drum majors: Meg Hein and Emily Mills.
Class B – 119 personnel.
Program: “Movie Music of Danny Elfman,” including “Spider Man,” “Nightmare Before Christmas,” “Beetlejuice” and “Ice Dance.”

Pride of Brandywine
Marching Band – II

Director: Sarah Bopp.
Commanders: Kayla Gaynier and Lena Miles.
Class D – 25 personnel.
Program: “Pictures at an Exhibition” by Modest Mussorgsky, arranged by Mike Story and featuring “Promenade,” “The Hut on Fowl’s Legs” and “Great Gate of Kiev.”

Dowagiac Chieftain
Marching Band – I

Director: C.J. Brooks, assisted by Alex Hubbell.
Drum majors: JoJo Pickar, Megan Corey and Courtney Klann.
Class B – 75 personnel.
Program: opera “Carmen” by George Bizet, arranged by Saucedo, including “Habanera,” “Flower Song” and “Toreador Song.”

Edwardsburg High
School Marching Band – I

Directors: Tom Crowner and Spencer White.
Commanders: Ashley Chambers and Elizabeth Reese.
Class B – 85 personnel.
Program: “Hopes and Dreams,” featuring the music of Joseph Curiale, Johns Barnes-Chance, Ron Nelson and Karl Jenkins.

Lakeshore Lancer
Marching Band – I

Director: Lori Von Koenig, assisted by Phil and Cindy Huff.
Commanders: Elise Von Koenig, Sean McDowell and Sarah Klug.
Class A – 172 personnel.
Program: “Fiesta” (Dawn of the Dead), including: Symphonic Dances No. 3 by Clifton Williams; La Fiesta Mexicana by H. Owen Reed; and The Ride by James Horner.

Ranger Pride Marching Band, Cassopolis – II

Director: Elisabeth Goodear.
Commanders: Robert Moore and Steven Butler.
Class D – 26 personnel.
Program: “The Music of Kiss,” including “Rock and Roll All Nite,” “Beth/Detroit Rock City” and “Shout It Out Loud.”

Buchanan HIgh School
Marching Band – II

Director Eric Olson.
Commander: Becca Kastner.
Class C – 56 personnel.
Program: “Apollo 13″ by Horner, arranged by Sweeney; “As Time Goes By” by Hupfeld, arranged by Higgins; and “Forrest Gump Suite” by Silvestri, arranged by Bocook.

Benton Harbor Tiger
Marching Band – II

Director: James D. Jones.
Commanders: Jeremiah Clay and Jameisha Jones.
Class A: 90 personnel.
Program: “El Matador,” J. Jones; “PYT,” Q. Jones, R. Temperton and M. Jackson, arranged by J. Jones; “Lady in My Life,” Q. Jones and M. Jackson, arranged by J. Jones; and “Thriller” dance mix, arranged by J. Jones.

Berrien Springs High
School Marching Band – I

Director: Ruth Livengood.
Commanders: Alex Spear and Shane Oakley.
Class B – 45 personnel.
Program: “Cirque du Soleil: La Nouba,” including “Distorted,” “Reve Rouge,” “Al la Lurie” and “Urban,” all by Benoit Jutras and arranged by Jay Dawson.

Spirit of Bridgman
Marching Band – I

Director: Cliff Reppart.
Commander: Nicole Pike.
Class D – 31 personnel.
Program: “Magnificent Seven” by Bernstein, “How the West was Won” by Newman and “Silverado” by Broughton, all arranged by Mike Story.

River Valley High
School Marching Band – I

Director: Robert Hay.
Commander: Shelby Francis.
Class D – 43 personnel.
Program: “Farandole” by Bizet, “Chorale from Jupiter” by Holst, “Hall of the Mountain King” by Dawson and “New World Symphony” by Dvorak.

New Buffalo High
School Band – I

Director: Christina Roback.
Commanders: Jenna Wojdula and Natalie Blackwood.
Class D – 45 personnel.
Program: “Mission Impossible” arranged by Michael Sweeney, “Secret Agent Man” arranged by Johnnie Vinson, “Soul Bossa Nova” arranged by Dan Havely, “Pink Panther” arranged by Ralph Ford and “Live and Let Die” arranged by Mike Story.

Niles hosted 13 bands Oct. 7 for the annual District 6 Southwestern Michigan Band and Orchestra Association (SWMBOA) Marching Band Festival. The Vikings earned a 1.

Director: Denise Lewis, who also designed the drill.
Program: “Decades,” including “Don’t Fear the Reaper,” “Addicted to Love” and “Enter Sandman,” all arranged by Paul Murtha, and “Viva la Vida,” arranged by Michael Brown.