(via Dr. Darren Gage, Director of Bands, GRHS)
The results are in from our first (ever) virtual competition, and the students’ strong performance earned Glen Ridge a top-10 finish against other Division 1 programs from around the country. We scored a 77.5, which was good enough for 6th place out of the 17 bands in our division. The recap can be found in the link below, and you can click on any band (including GRMB) to watch their performance. I’d encourage you to explore the incredible diversity of individual, small ensemble, and full band productions, and you can also check out the “Creative Class” videos, for which multiple cameras (drones!) and things like graphics are permitted.
https://www.flomarching.com/results/6797117-2020-usbands-demoulin-invitational/28177
For those who were able to watch the live stream of the awards yesterday, it was awesome to see our band, and Anna’s backyard salute, slotted in with schools from Pennsylvania, Illinois, Texas, Minnesota, and Idaho. Yes, Idaho. The top score in Division 1 was earned by our local friends at Wayne Valley HS, meaning we collectively made sure that New Jersey was well represented in the top 10 (Immaculata HS from Somerville also won Creative Class). In the end it was very emotional for me to see these teachers, students, and band parents from all over America putting in the hard work necessary to have a safe band season — to create art and performance out of crisis, and to do it as a family and a community. It reminds all of us how important arts education is, especially at times like this.
I’m so very proud of our GRMB family and the honest, hard work we’re putting in.