River Hawks Marching Band Opens Camp
Armstrong Senior High Band Director Jason Venesky meets with the more than 80 musicians and color guard dancers that will perform during halftime of football games beginning September 4. Yesterday was the second day of the two-week band camp before the first football game.
by Jonathan Weaver
Friday nights this fall won’t just be about high school football for more than 80 Armstrong River Hawks.
During halftime of each game will also be the inaugural season of the Armstrong River Hawks marching band – which began their first rehearsals together Monday morning at Armstrong Marching Band Headquarters (the former Kittanning Senior High) with Band Director Jason Venesky and five other instructors.
“(Monday) was the first day that all 83 of us all got together for the first time – you’re taking the best students from Ford City (and) the best students from Kittanning and putting them together. It doesn’t get much better than that,” Venesky said.
Venesky said the approximately-eight minute show will include three musical arrangements and plenty of movement from both musicians and guard members – all of whom will be freshman through seniors at the new Armstrong Junior-Senior High when school opens September 8.
Music includes “Land of a Thousand Dances” – a song the prior Kittanning and Ford City high school bands have been playing together as a cheer -, “Fly Me To the Moon,” and “River Dance.”
“(“Land of a Thousand Dances”) was the perfect tune to bring us all together for the first time,” Venesky said. “It brought the new school full circle.”
Senior Drum Majors Jace Armentrout and Kendra Hale were watching from the sidelines as instrumentalists learned their movements Tuesday, but know the clock is ticking until the first football game September 4.
Both will have different roles Friday nights, Venesky said.
Armentrout and Hale both played trumpet and piccolo, respectively, before being chosen to lead the band onto the field. Both are anxious for the season to begin.
“I came into this not knowing how it would be – we had individual practices for clarinets or different (instruments), but I only went to the brass ones and played with them – it was a whole new experience for all of us,” Armentrout said. “I’m impressed with how we’re all doing so far.”
Hale predicted the music will sound “great” by the first performance.
Ford City Senior Drum Captain Tim Tedeski kept the eight drummers – including snares, basses, quads and cymbals – in his unit in line Tuesday and said the musical selections are different from what he is used to.
“It’s a nice change. And the parts are fun to play, too,” Tedeski said.
River Hawks guard members began practicing June 16 – including Kittanning Senior Autumn Rothwell, who is one of four seniors in the 13-member flag unit. She said students from both schools have become friends quickly.
“I’ve been doing it ever since my freshman year because I just fell in love with the family that everyone (becomes),” Rothwell said. “We’re (no longer) from Ford City (or) Kittanning - we’re all one big family now.
“We’re River Hawks.”
Marching Instructor Jake Kanish and Percussion Instructor Phillip Wyant are former Ford City High drum majors excited to be back working with the high school musicians.
Both Kanish – who will also be “the voice” of the band before the halftime show – and Wyant said the band has high expectations for itself this inaugural season.
Even though weekday practices will continue through August 28, the band will march to “Land of a Thousand Dances” during Kennywood Park’s Fall Fantasy Parade Tuesday evening.
Sophomore Katie Pyle (in red) leads other trumpet players as they learn movements for the band’s first song, “Land of a Thousand Dances.”
Armstrong School District | jweaver August 19, 2015
By lowfatlowcarbnosugarcheesecake, August 19, 2015 @ 10:49 AM
This isn’t news. Kids had/have band camp all over the state right now. Kids had band camp before they closed the schools.
Did the teacher contracts or any others get approved? I bet they did. Or what goes on other than “look at our new building, look at our athletes getting along.” Who cares about that? It’s a new building. It better look good. And of course kids playing together on the same team and going to summer camps and water parks etc will get along. This is not what news sources should be reporting.
It’s time to cut the kissy crap with the new school and focus on REAL news. Because as far as I am concerned this is not real news, this is just distraction from real issues hurting our area. As far as I am concerned this is just propaganda from the school board to cover up what is really going on in this district.
By rbcelli, August 19, 2015 @ 7:58 PM
This article is a nice change from reading about the drugs and other depressing things going on in this county!!
Cheer up cheesecake!!
By Just sayin, August 20, 2015 @ 10:06 AM
Cheesecake: Yes, it is called POSITIVE news.
I agree with rbcelli! Cheer up, Cheesecake! LOL! Cute!
Some people would complain if they had a loose noose.