THE MARCHING HORNETS leave Arthur J. Kenney Field after competing in the 2022 MICCA competition which they also hosted. The hometown favorites will perform their new program, “Goin’ Home,” featuring baseball-themed songs, when they host the third annual Northeast Region MICCA competition this Sunday, Oct. 15 at 1 p.m. (Courtesy Photo)

 

 

NORTH READING — For a third year, the North Reading High School Marching Hornets, led by Director Ben Owens, is hosting a Northeast Region Massachusetts Instrumental and Choral Conductors Association (MICCA) marching band competition this Sunday, October 15 at 1 pm.

Come see four local high school marching bands perform, cheer on our Hornets, and enjoy a special guest performance by the spectacular UMass Lowell Marching Band.

The NRHS performance is a baseball themed show entitled “Goin’ Home” featuring “The Star-Spangled Banner” as well as: “Did you See Jackie Robinson?” by Natalie Cole; “Pastime” by Jack Stamp; “Life Goes On” by Hans Zimmer (from “A League of Their Own”); “Centerfield” by John Fogerty; and “Home” by Philip Philips.

“I have been so impressed with the growth in maturity and technical skill of these young performers,” said Band Director Ben Owens. “It’s been wonderful to see this program go from concept, to composition, and now coming to reality on the field.”

Owens is in his sixth year leading the Marching Band, which has grown from about two dozen students to 65 students under his direction. He is joined by Dan Muse (Assistant Director) and Tara Zerfas (Colorguard Director) as well as Drum Majors Isabelle Kim, Nathan Burt and Raffi Toby.

Section leaders are Drew Mountain, Luke Berkley, James Dillon, Joe Dhimitri, Fahd Benhafoune, Lilly Liberto, Brian Conlon, Nick Santiago and Sam Marques.

PROGRAM AND SCHEDULE OF BANDS

  • 1:00 p.m.: North Reading High School’s NOTEorious will perform “The Star-Spangled Banner” and other selections.

The band competition lineup is as follows:

  • 1:15 p.m.: Dracut H.S.
  • 1:30 p.m.: Reading H.S.
  • 1:45 p.m.: Londonderry (N.H.) H.S.
  • 2:00 p.m.: North Reading H.S.
  • 2:15 p.m.: ​Brief intermission
  • 2:30 p.m.: UMass Lowell
  • 2:45 p.m.: Awards presentation

Bands will be judged in the following six categories: General Effect Music; General Effect Visual; Music Performance; Visual Performance; Percussion and Colorguard.

Full concessions will be available in the stadium at the Hornets concession stand with proceeds benefitting music scholarships, the uniform fund and music enrichment activities.

TICKETS

Tickets are available at the gate or online, and are $8 general admission or $5 students/seniors. To purchase online, go to https://nrmb.square.site/micca-2023-tickets

Please bring a copy of your receipt to the gate.

PARKING

Parking with a free shuttle bus service will be provided at Ipswich River Park (IRP), 15 Central St.

Handicap accessible parking and additional spectator parking is available in the high school lot beside the Peabody Court senior housing complex, not far from Carey Park and the main entrance to the stadium.

Additional spectator parking is available at the Batchelder School lot as well as in marked parking spaces in the two bank parking lots across the street from the school.

Overflow parking is available the top of the Town Common, at the Union Congregational Church, 148 Haverhill St., and at Trinity Church, 105 Haverhill St.

Absolutely no parking will be allowed on Sherman Road.

The lower parking lot at the high school, adjacent to the playing fields, is reserved for the equipment trucks of the bands. The upper parking lot at the high school is reserved for band buses and a band warm-up area.

The organizers strongly recommend accounting for additional time to get from the overflow lots to the high school.

For additional information, including a map of the parking area and to order tickets online visit https://nrmusic.weebly.com/micca.html