19 marching bands perform at Boyertown’s 63rd annual Arlen Saylor Cavalcade

Music filled Boyertown Memorial Stadium for Boyertown Area Schools Music League’s 63rd annual Arlen Saylor Cavalcade on Saturday, Sept. 30.

Named in honor of former Boyertown Area Senior High band director Arlen R. Saylor, the cavalcade showcased field shows by 19 bands, including 16 high school bands, East Stroudsburg University band and Boyertown’s middle and high school marching units.

Participating bands included Hazleton, Conrad Weiser, Catasauqua, Pennridge, Governor Mifflin, Pottstown, Hatboro-Horsham, Pottsgrove, Nazareth, Warwick, Whitehall, Phoenixville, Hempfield, Neshaminy and Upper Moreland.

Susquehannock High School’s marching band from Glen Rock traveled the farthest distance.

Hosted by the Boyertown Area Schools Music League, a non-profit organization that has supported all music from kindergarten through grade 12, since 1959, the competition offers spectators the chance to see marching units from neighboring communities.

Pottstown High School Trojan Marching Band’s field show “Here I Go Again” featured hits from the Broadway musical “Mamma Mia!” Their show was awarded 3rd place in the American A division with a score of 76.45.

The field shows featured themes, costumes, colorful flags and backdrops.

Governor Mifflin High School’s field show titled “Amun-Ra” was a salute to the Egyptian sun god.

“I like being able to watch all the other bands perform and see what their show is like,” said Governor Mifflin senior trumpet player Riley Whiskeyman, who has been in marching band for four years. “I was inspired by my dad and grandfather who both used to play trumpet in high school, and also just the desire to learn an instrument that I found really cool.”

The field show “Vampire in Love” by the Pennridge High School Marching Rams is a reverse “Beauty and the Beast” story where the main character turns evil, a love story gone bad, as explained by a Pennridge parent. Their set included a castle that took eight weeks to build.

For Pottsgrove High School Marching Band’s field show “Spellbound,” the color guard dressed as witches twirling flags that looked like flames.

“Our show starts out with one of our witch color guard kids trying to get the band member to fall in love with them,” explained Crystal Butler, Pottsgrove color guard director. “He just walks right by her and doesn’t even notice her.”

The upset witches steal parts of the band uniform. They add the clothes into a large cauldron to make a love potion.

“Our closer ends with the band falling in love with the color guard,” said Butler.

Pottsgrove High School Band Director Ellie Zerefos first had the idea to have a story that included witches.

“She came up with a great story,” said Butler.

Boyertown Area Senior High School Director of Bands Brian Langdon wrote the music for Pottsgrove’s show and Bob Beck designed the color guard witch uniforms.

“The coolest part of marching band is that every band supports one another,” said Governor Mifflin band parent Peg Merkel. “They all cheer for each other and want everyone to succeed. That’s unique to band. It’s awesome to see.”

“The band is a family,” continued Merkel. “To practice all week, play the football game Friday night, then spend 12-plus hours on a Saturday at a marching band competition shows true dedication and commitment to their passion for music and camaraderie with each other.”