Warwick School District

Marching Band Presents: The Road Less Traveled

The Warwick Marching Band has been diligently working on their new show, The Road Less Traveled, based on the famous Robert Frost poem “The Road Not Taken”.  The show will take viewers through an emotional journey and will feature pieces such as Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s Waltz from Sleeping Beauty, Dmitri Shostakovich’s Symphony 10, Radiohead’s Creep, Aaron Copland's Appalachian Spring, and Frank Sinatra’s My Way. This show will also feature two student soloists, Evie Strayer on Baritone and Brisa Miller on Mellophone.

“I’m most excited to perform a show that’s so different from any other show we’ve done while I was a part of the band. It’s a great chance for us to demonstrate our versatility.” - Jacob Soslow, Senior at Warwick High School.

The band has been rehearsing this show since June 4th. Throughout the Summer, the band met every Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning for rehearsals. The week of July 30th, they had a mini-camp, and on August 5th they began their full band camp.

Band Camp rehearsals run Monday-Thursday from 2:00 pm - 9:00 pm each day. During camp, the band focuses on marching techniques, musicality, drill formations, and other important elements of the show. 

This year, the band is comprised of 50 woodwinds and brass, 21 percussions, and 16 color guard members for a total of 87 members. The band is under the direction of Matt Tenaglia, the Middle School and High School Band Director at Warwick. Tenaglia is assisted by Kyle Farkas, the Assistant Band Director. The show was arranged by Andrew Yozviak. Color Guard is under the direction of Katie Mumma and assisted by Nikki Stump and Maggie Cascarella.

“In our design, we wanted to feature every group this year. We attended a design training summit and spent a lot of time working hard to help this show come to life … I’m also really excited to watch students become leaders. Most of the leadership in the band graduated last year, so this is a great opportunity to witness students stepping into these roles” - Matt Tenaglia, Middle School/High School Band Director.

The following students hold leadership positions in the band:

  • Drum Majors: 

    • Kaelyn Jones (12th Grade) 

    • Grace Myers (10th Grade)

  • Field Captains:

    • Evie Strayer, Wind Captain (12th Grade)

    • Carly Ruchalski, Wind Captain (12th Grade)

    • Jacob Soslow, Percussion Captain (12th Grade)

    • Katherine Karcheski, Color Guard Captain (12th Grade)

    • Crystal Kirui, Color Guard Captain (12th Grade)

“My favorite thing about being a leader is that I feel very connected to the whole band family and I’m able to help with more than just my own section.” - Carly Ruchalski, Senior at Warwick High School.

As part of band camp, students dress up for a number of different themed days including Vacation Day, Decades Day, Anything But Instruments Day, and more.

The band will perform at the following football games and band competitions:

  • Football Games:

    • September 23: Away Game vs. Avon Grove

    • September 30: Away Game vs. Lampeter-Strasburg

    • September 6: Home Game vs. Cedar Crest

    • September 13: Home Game vs. Solanco

    • September 20: Away Game vs. Cocalico

    • September 27: Home Game vs. Garden Spot

    • October 4: Home Game vs. Fleetwood

    • October 11: Away Game vs. Conrad Weiser

    • October 18: Home Game vs. New Oxford

    • October 25: Away Game vs. Manheim Central

  • Band Competitions:

    • September 7: Competition at Cedar Crest

    • September 14: Competition at Hempfield

    • September 28: Competition at Boyertown

    • October 12: Warwick Cavalcade of Bands

    • October 19: Bands of America Mid-Atlantic Championships at the University of Delaware

    • October 26: Competition at Manheim Central

    • November 2: Championship Cavalcade of Bands (Dallastown)

It’s going to be a fantastic show! We hope to see you in the stands cheering on the band this season.