Bloomfield High Band Off to a Tremendous Start in Competition, Taking First Place Across the Board on Sept. 28

A new season is underway for the Bloomfield High School band, and the early results are outstanding.

Led by its band director, Natalie Kerr, the Bengals began its first season in Tournament of Bands Group 1, Open Class. Last year, they were promoted to Open Class after winning Region 10, NJ State, & Atlantic Coast Championships.

This year's field show, is entitled "Hide & Seek," and includes music written by Marty McCartt, Visual Design by Joshua Potter, and Percussion by Joseph Itkor.

The band plans to perform at the following competitions as well as all BHS football games throughout the season.

The team's first competition was on Sept. 28, at a rainy West Milford High School, and the Bengals excelled, with a series of first-place finishes.

The next competition is on Oct. 6, at Madison High School, followed by Oct. 13, at Butler High School. The Region championships are at West Essex High, on Oct. 20 and the NJ State championships at Toms River East High, on Oct. 26.

"Our awards were first place Overall in Group 1, Open Class, including first place music, first place visual, first place effect, first place percussion and first place color guard," said Kerr of the Sept. 28 competition.

The band's staff includes Director Natalie Kerr, Assistant Director Daniel Burbank, Percussion Instructor Daniel Zapata, Guard Instructors Vanessa Daly & Emily Fencik, and Visual/Music Tech Daniel DiTommaso.

The band will also perform in the Hot Bagels Abroad Tree Lighting Parade in December, the West Orange St. Patrick's Parade in March, and the Bloomfield Memorial Day Parade in May.

The drum majors this season are Cady Cazares and Ella Jacoby. On flute are Tatum Cheplic, Gabriel Lois, Christopher Molokwu and Mayra Padilla. Jude Casas and Audrey Velez play the clarinet, Janessa Izurieta and Seychelle Molokwu are on alto saxophone, Kieran Stamps, tenor saxophone, Alvaro Ramos, baritone saxophone, Cady Cazares, piccolo, Ella Jacoby and Alexander Bermeo, trumpet, Melina Coronel and Fiona O'Broin, mellophone, Mia Ojeda, trombone, Maya Cappiello, William Clarin, Gillian Fiveland, Matthew Fiveland, Easton Gatts, Isabella Gavidia, Ava Parrella, Daniela Penafiel, Luke Rakowsky and Vanesa Zuniga, percussion; the color guards are Gemm Andersen, Jasper Ferrer, Nadya Marquina, Isabel Mendez, Jasmine Munswami, Mariana Rodriguez and Kristen Sprock.

The woodwind section leader is Jacob Celi, brass section leader is Mia Ojeda, guard section leader is Nadya Marquina, percussion section leader is Maya Cappiello, band president is Fiona O'Broin, band vice president is Janessa Izurieta and the band secretary is Melina Coronel.

For more local news, visit TAPinto.net