Coatesville Area Senior High School marching band prepares for season debut
PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- We're celebrating another week of school spirit here at 6abc. This week, we welcomed the Coatesville Area Senior High School marching band to the yard.
The band is preparing for an active season of football performances and band competitions after spending the summer rehearsing for its upcoming shows.
The band's season begins Friday night with a halftime performance during the varsity football game against Coatesville.
Band members have dedicated much of their summer to practice in preparation for the season.
"This year, I didn't even get to go to the beach or anything, I just did this for most of the summer," said sophomore Josiah Galloway.
Galloway said he is eager to showcase the group's hard work when performances begin.
The marching band includes about 40 members and is open to students beyond the high school level. According to band director Gabriel Hughes, participants in grades 6 through 12 are welcome to join.
"So everybody is invited. Anybody who has played an instrument, even didn't play an instrument yet, we'll come and teach you," Hughes said.
Senior Liam Nicol joined the band in eighth grade.
"My dad, he's a drummer and my mom, she used to be in marching band. She always told me stories and I always thought that was so cool, I just wanted to get involved as soon as possible," he said.
Hughes said music education is a skill that develops over time and can provide opportunities long after students leave school.
"It's a skill, so it's going to take time to get them to master it, but when they mastering it, there are a lot of opportunities that open for them. People don't realize, even in professional circles like doctors and things, they play music still," Hughes said.
As the new season gets underway, band members are looking forward to sharing the results of months of preparation with audiences at football games and competitions while developing skills they can carry throughout their lives.
