2017
Glen Ridge Marching Band Finishes Season, Wins Esprit de Corps Award at Nationals
The Glen Ridge High School Marching Band has completed another successful award-winning season with its final two shows, both held on November 4.
The Band, under the direction of Dr. Darren Gage and Drum Major Oliver Turiano, placed 2nd at the State Championships in Middletown, New Jersey and also earned awards for Best Music and Best Overall Effect. At the National Championships in Allentown, Pennsylvania, the Glen Ridge Band fought its way up from a 7th seed to earn 2nd place and win the award for Best Music. GRHS was also chosen out of all competing bands to receive the prestigious “Esprit de Corps” award, an honor given by the U.S. Marine Corps to the band that best exemplifies the qualities of pride, professionalism and patriotism. Throughout each competition, the band’s scores steadily increased, culminating in the final two shows of the 2017 season. This year’s show, “Open Wide To The World: The Music of Don Ellis” was conceived and designed by Dr. Gage.
Drum Major Oliver Turiano and the trophy at Nationals (photo credit: Osvaldo Umana)
In addition to Gage, the band has been supported this season by Assistant Band Directors Elizabethann Landers and Jason Curcio, Percussion Instructor Steve DeLuca, Woodwind Instructor Justin Romano, and Brass Instructors Alecia DeJoseph and Patty Schmitt and Choreographer Gina Ventura. In addition to Turiano, student leaders include Drill Sergeant Jessie Zuiderveld, Field Captain Sam Landis, Color Guard Captain Julia Sterling, Upper Woodwind Captain Camille Peck, Lower Woodwind Captain Collin Wehr, Brass Captain Eli Bushue, Lower Brass Captain Daryush Dehnavi and Percussion Captain Guy Anello.
Photo: L-R: L-R: Lower Woodwind Captain Collin Wehr, Brass Captain Eli Bushue, Field Captain Sam Landis, Lower Brass Captain Daryush Dehnavi, Drum Major Oliver Turiano, Percussion Captain Guy Anello, Color Guard Captain Julia Sterling, Senior Ashley Zweig, and Upper Woodwind Captain Camille Peck. Not pictured: Drill Sergeant Jessie Zuiderveld (Photo: Osvaldo Umana)
2016
Glen Ridge marching band completes strong season (11/14/2016)
“It was another good season for the Glen Ridge High School marching band. The band, under the direction of band director Darren Gage, competed in seven local, state and national competitions between Sept. 25 and Nov. 5, and brought home first-place awards from five of them. The band’s last competition of the season was at the USBands National Competition in Allentown, Pa., where it took third place.
“It was a fabulous season for the band,” said Joan Giurdanella, chair of the Glen Ridge Music Parents’ Association.”
Glen Ridge High School Chorus Performs For Seniors Golden Circle (11/01/2016)
“The Chorus performed a selection of songs to the crowd of delighted senior citizens including “Burn” from the Tony Award-winning musical, Hamilton, “I Dreamed a Dream” from Les Miserables, “What I Did For Love” from A Chorus Line, “A Thousand Years” by Christina Perri, and “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow” by Carole King. Principal Louis Melchor played guitar for Tyler Matos’ rendition of Frank Sinatra’s “Fly Me To the Moon.””
Marching Band tops in its category at Bloomfield NJ 2016 festival (11/04/2016)
“In competition against New Milford, Belleville and Elmwood Park, GRHS was rated “superior” by the judges while the other bands in their group each received a “good” rating. Glen Ridge was also designated the band, among the four, with the best music, best color guard display, and the best percussion section. Overall, when judged against the nine other bands that participated in the festival, the GRHS percussion section was judged to be the best overall.”
Marching Ridgers Place Second at State (10/25/2016)
The Glen Ridge Marching Band finished in Second Place, Divison 1A at the USBands New Jersey State Championships on Sunday, October 23. The band performed its show, Aaron Copland’s Rodeo on the campus of Rowan University in Glassboro, New Jersey, receiving a score of 86.088.
Essex County Executive DiVincenzo dedicates “Horace Ashenfelter Track” in Essex County Watsessing Park (10/18/2016)
“Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. dedicated the “Horace Ashenfelter Track” in Essex County Watsessing Park on Friday, October 14th. The honor recognizes long-time Glen Ridge resident Horace Ashenfelter, who won a Gold Medal in the Steeplechase in the 1952 Olympics in Helsinki, Finland. Ashenfelter, who is now 93 years old, used the Watsessing Track to train for the Olympics.”
Glen Ridge Marching Band Performs at Homecoming Game (09/29/2016)
The marching band performed at halftime with a trip to the American West, an exploration of the ballet “Rodeo,” a 1940s collaboration between Aaron Copland and choreographer Agnes de Mille. Musical selections included “Buckaroo Holiday,” “Saturday Night Waltz” and “Hoe Down.”
Successful Weekend for the Glen Ridge Marching Ridgers (09/27/2016)
The Glen Ridge Marching band, under the direction of Dr. Darren Gage, has just wrapped up a successful weekend that included the Homecoming Halftime Show and a 1st Place win at the opening USBands competition of the season, held at Wayne Valley High School in Wayne, New Jersey.
Glen Ridge Marching Band Announces Performances (09/22/2016)
For its 2016 season, the Glen Ridge Marching Band, under the direction of Darren Gage and the guidance of Drum Major Lucy Smeets, will perform Aaron Copeland’s “Rodeo.”
Glen Ridge Marching Band Preps for New Season (09/01/16)
The Glen Ridge High School Marching Band’s Color Guard drills behind the high school on day two of band camp.
Glen Ridge letter: Why Marching Band Is a Fall Sport (08/25/16)
Seriously, you’re asking, marching band is considered a fall sport? It may not seem like it when all you see is a half-time show at football games. But that halftime show is only a small part of what the band and color guard do throughout the fall months.
2015-2016
Glen Ridge BOE recognizes band’s success (12/10/15)
Glen Ridge High School’s marching band and color guard received an end-of-season tribute during Monday night’s board of education meeting.
Glen Ridge council hears concerns about road stripes, honors band (11/10/15)
Glen Ridge High School’s marching band was officially honored during the meeting for their award-winning performance in Delaware this past weekend.
A winning weekend for Glen Ridge marching band (11/05/15)
A winning weekend for Glen Ridge marching band.
Glen Ridge marching band starts season with win (09/25/15)
The Glen Ridge High School marching band’s season got off to a good start this past weekend, with a win in a local band festival.
GRHS Marching Band Plays it Cool with a First Place Win (09/24/15)
The Glen Ridge High School Marching Band had the audience singing along and snapping their fingers with their debut performance of Buddy Rich’s “West Side Story,” earning a first place win in the Group A category at their first competition at Verona High School last Sunday, September 20
11th Annual Mustang Classic Marching Band Competition (09/21/15)
The Montville Township High School Field Corps and Marching Band will host the 11th Annual Mustang Classic Marching Band Competition on Saturday, October 24, 2015.