Band marches to Atlanta for bowl game

by Alexis Cosby

The Varina High School Marching Band spends two hours every afternoon preparing for the performance of a lifetime.

The band will participate in the National Chick-fil-A Bowl Festival field show competition at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta on New Year’s Eve.

Band director Christopher Moseley said this is the first time the band has competed at the festival.

“It serves as a testimony to the work ethic of the kids. It’s one of the privileges we enjoy as a group,” Mr. Moseley said.

Junior drum major Austin Marciniak looks forward to what the band will gain from the festival experience.

“We have the opportunity to go and just to see how everything runs down there,” Austin said.

The band will stay in Atlanta for four days and three nights for the competition. Each band will march in a street parade on New Year’s Eve. Next, they will individually perform during the pre-game show and will join in a massed group performance at halftime.

The Varina band has earned the distinction as a Virginia Honor Band 13 times, but it has never played in front of a crowd of as many as 75 thousand people.

“We are a great band with a great sound and lot of potential,” senior percussion section leader Adam Pleasants said.

Gary Smith, the band director emeritus of the University of Illinois, will work with the musicians to improve their performance.

In addition to practices, the band has been fundraising to cut the individual cost of the trip, which is about $400. Mr. Moseley hopes that the cost will be reduced to $50 by December.

The band has been raising money through car washes and the sale of baked goods and fruit. Next, they will host a “Community Shred-it Day” and a shoe drive.

Austin said each band member is responsible for getting the band to the competition.

“I’ve been trying to get them in the mindset that if you really want this and really want to go, then you have to put forth your effort and not rely on everybody else,” Austin said.

Austin said the band has a goal to bring home a title.

“Mr. Moseley wants to get us to the point where we are on everybody’s radar and everybody’s watching for us, to see what we are going to be doing next,” Austin said.