ALJ Crusaders Marching Band Senior Spotlight: Mariana Milara & Matthew Falcon
By TAPinto Clark Staff,
21 hours ago
ALJ Crusaders Marching Band senior spotlight. Credits: Clark Public Schools
CLARK, NJ — TAPinto Clark continues senior spotlights of the ALJ Crusaders Marching Band!
The Crusaders Marching Band meets three times a week after school for practice. On Friday evenings, the band supports the ALJ football team. At many of the games, you'll see the members performing their half-time show. On the weekends, they attend competitions and perform their 2025 show “Sweet.”
My favorite marching band memory has to be everything that took place the night of our last day of band camp this year. The color guard finally beat the other sections in an activity; we finished all three movements and performed amazing run-throughs at the end of the night. And to top it off, we got some staff members to participate in our Zumba exercise back in the band room.
What is your favorite snack to eat at band competitions?
My favorite snack to eat at competitions has to be either chicken tenders and fries or a walking taco.
What has been your favorite marching band show?
My favorite marching band show is actually the one we are working on right now, “Sweet!” Although we have not had an official performance yet, all the choreography, props, and music complement each other so well, and I cannot wait for it to be fully performed out on the field.
What is your favorite part of the marching band?
My favorite part of the marching band is that everyone acts like this huge family and no one is ever left out of anything under any circumstances. The energy within our group is always so positive and uplifting and everyone is constantly being supportive of each other.
What will you miss about the marching band?
I have to say I am going to miss the color guard the most. I have built such a strong bond with each and every one of these people, and I am so grateful to have been able to spend these past three seasons with them. To me, they are like my second family and every memory I have made with them will follow me for many years to come. I am going to miss the times we’ve laughed, cried together, our random hangouts, and even the times when we’ve laughed at each other for persistently finding ways to get a new injury every week. Overall, it does feel bittersweet knowing that this will be my last time marching with them, but they will always hold a special place in my heart.
What are your plans after graduation?
I have not decided where I am going to be attending college yet, but after graduation I plan on majoring in either psychology or computational science and engineering. I would also like to pursue participating in color guard outside of high school throughout my college years, whether it’s marching for a university marching band, a winter guard program, or even a drum corps.
Where do you see yourself in five years?
In five years, I see myself focusing on establishing a career and deciding what I want to do later in life. I would like to sing jazz and perform gigs alongside my actual career and I will do my best to come back and attend ALJ home shows every now and then to support the music program.
Matthew Falcon :
What is your favorite marching band memory?
MetLife Stadium.
What is your favorite snack to eat at band competitions?
Walking Taco .
What has been your favorite marching band show?
Organized Crime.
What is your favorite part of the marching band?
Being with friends.
What will you miss about the marching band?
Playing drums and being around amazing people.
What are your plans after graduation?
To make money.
Where do you see yourself in five years?
At college and working.
***
Stay tuned for our next two Crusader spotlights coming soon!
[Don’t miss any TAPinto Clark news. Go to tapinto.net/enews to sign up for our free e-newsletter, delivered each morning to your inbox.]
Get updates delivered to you daily. Free and customizable.
It’s essential to note our commitment to transparency:
Our Terms of Use acknowledge that our services may not always be error-free, and our Community Standards emphasize our discretion in enforcing policies. As a platform hosting over 100,000 pieces of content published daily, we cannot pre-vet content, but we strive to foster a dynamic environment for free expression and robust discourse through safety guardrails of human and AI moderation.
Local News
Comments / 0