The Brown and White

As summer comes around, the Catasauqua High School Marching Band gets to work preparing for their upcoming season. Directed by Catasauqua High School music teacher Robert Arnold, the 34 members begin their season in early July and continue throughout November.  Arnold hoped to receive high scores at competitions this season. “My main goal was to place first in the independence division,” said Arnold. The band is open to any musicians in grades seven to twelve. There are six middle school students who have taken the opportunity to join the high school in their performances. Age is not a barrier for the band members and neither is being an athlete. Among the 34 members, 12 of them are athletes as well, making the marching band a diverse group of young adults. The band’s performance is titled “Blueprints.” Senior Ben Langsdorf explains that it conceptualizes the idea of creating a new building both physically and musically. This show not only performed at football games but also at their band competitions. “The show is a concept of how a building comes together, and it actually resembles how the team comes together,” said Langsdorf. The Rough Riders started off their competition season at Nazareth High School on October 19.

The band competes in the Independence Division, along with 24 other bands. The marching band placed fourth out of six teams, with a 78 percent. For the first time ever, the Rough Riders received a high percussion and high auxiliary award. On October 26, the Rough Riders traveled to Whitehall High School and placed fourth yet again. “The scores have been very high, and I’m really excited,” said Arnold. “They’ve got the hunger and drive to push themselves beyond their past, and the scores have been showing that.”

On November 2, the Rough Rider Marching Band received a trophy in recognition for their third place rank, with a score of 79.9 percent at the Governor Mifflin competition. Director Arnold was recognized for his dedication and commitment to the marching band with the presentation of the best director award. On November 9, the marching band members traveled to West Chester University for the championship competition. The CHS marching band received 5th place out of 12 bands, with an overall score of 81 percent.

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