Marauder Marching Band

Welcome to the Marching Marauders!

Important Links:

Saturday, August 26 12pm-4pm (BHS Band Room)

Student Leaders (student leaders only):

Saturday, August 26: 6:30PM-7:15PM

Band Parent and Student Meeting (mandatory for all members)

Zoom link will be sent to all registered email addresses in August.

Drumline Rehearsals (percussion only):

August 23, 24 from 9AM-3PM

Colorguard (colorguard only):

August 19, 20 10AM-1PM

Band Camp (all marchers):

Sunday-Thursday, August 27-31, 1PM-7PM

Thursday, August 31 will be our "first performance" for families & friends at the end of camp at 5:30PM.

September 5-6, 2023:

We have been invited to perform for the teachers as they enter the high school for our opening day meeting!

7:50AM report, 8:00AM performance, done at 8:45AM

Attire: Tour shirts and “whatever” bottoms

On the first day of school (September 6), the instrumentalists of the MMB will perform stand tunes at the 8:30-8:50AM ribbon cutting ceremony for the new building. You can wear regular clothes for this!

MMB Events Throughout the Year:

The Marching Marauders perform at all home varsity football games (weather permitting) and at the Thanksgiving Game vs. Watertown. The band also performs at Porchfest in September, the pep rally before Thanksgiving, at the Memorial Day Parade in May, and any other cool opportunities that arise.

Porchfest 2023 at 52 Washington Street: Saturday, September 9, 4:30-5:00PM. Students should show up at 3:30PM to support the BHS Trumpet Choir and "So Blue" Jazz Combo, who will be performing at the POMS Porch! Attire: Black/white MMB "Tour Shirts" and whatever you'd like to wear for bottoms.

Fall 2023 Game Schedule (updated August 26)

Thursday, September 21 vs. Westford Academy, 6:30PM

Friday, October 6 vs Lexington, 6:00PM

Friday, October 20 vs. Woburn, 6:30PM

Friday, October 27 vs. Reading Memorial, 6:00PM

Thanksgiving Thursday, November 23, 10AM at Watertown (away game), 10AM

MMB Band Banquet

Wednesday, December 13, 6:00-8:30PM

MMB Fall Schedule:

Marauder Marching Band rehearses on Tuesdays from 4PM-7PM on the following dates: September 5, 12, 19, 26, October 3, 10, 17, 24

MMB Spring Schedule:

May 7, 14, 21 3:45-5:00PM Memorial Day Parade rehearsals

May 27: Memorial Day Parade Performance (Time TBD)

All current rostered members are expected to attend (seniors, you are included in this even though you are done with school by now!)

Uniform Information:

Uniforms need to be dry cleaned and tacked/hemmed (with no cutting) by 9/5. Uniforms will go home with students as they are fitted M-W of band camp.
We need parent volunteers to help with uniform fitting 4pm-6:30pm of band camp week. Link to sign up is here!

Attendance is expected at all performances, and allowances can be made for rehearsal conflicts with sufficient advance notice. If you are involved in BPS related activities in addition to marching band such as Fall Sports, please take the time to consider some helpful decision-making steps:

If we have a band rehearsal (which is usually once per week unless we have a Friday game), that rehearsal takes priority over a BPS sports practice (which usually happen every day).
If you have a game for your sport that conflicts with a band rehearsal, your game will take priority.
If you have a game for your sport that conflicts with a performance, the performance will take priority.
If you have a conflict for a non-BPS organization that you are a part of, those potential band absences will be handled on a case-by-case basis. Communication is the most important thing- please go through your calendar for the Fall and be sure that you have the above dates marked in.

Here is the link to the Absence Form. Students will need to report any missing portions of rehearsals OR full absences on that form for each anticipated or last-minute absence. No-shows are not accepted- our program is a success due to clear and open communication! After 2 absences or missed portions of rehearsal, communication with the student/parent will take place, and a meeting may be scheduled to discuss future participation.

There is a $40 membership fee (due at band camp) that covers band T-shirts, cookies on Friday night games, and any other items purchased for the group to enjoy throughout the season.

Band members purchase their own marching shoes and gloves. This payment is due on the first day of band camp. You can place your order for shoes and gloves here.

For all after-school VPA activities, there is a required $275 payment for the year (which includes access to all VPA after-school activities). You can find the link to pay that fee here, along with waiver applications for this fee.

Please click here to view the fee breakdown for marching band this year. If you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to be in touch!

Schedules and important information will be published online at the band website.

Please email Ms. Lacasse with any questions that you might have. Email: alacasse@belmontschools.net

Meet Our Staff!

Evan Tropp, Assistant Director

Evan earned his bachelor’s degree in Music Education from UMass Lowell in 2005. His passion for the marching arts began with East Coast Jazz in 2001 where he marched until his age out in 2004. The following year, Evan joined the visual team for ECJ for the 2005 and 2006 season. In the 2007 season, he began working with the Citations Drum and Bugle Corps as Caption Head and visual instructor through the 2008 season. From 2009 to 2014, he was the visual instructor at the Spartans Drum and Bugle Corps. Evan worked with Jersey Surf Drum and Bugle Corps from 2015 to 2017 as interim Visual Caption Head, visual tech and visual coordinator respectively. The 2018 Drum Corps season found Evan sharing his experience and passion for with Cadets 2 in PA. Currently, he is the ensemble coordinator for the Connecticut Hurricanes Drum and Bugle Corps. Evan has also written for multiple bands in Massachusetts. For 2016 and 2017, he was the drill designer for Hendrickson Hawks Indoor Percussion out of Pflugerville, TX. He has also enjoyed success for the past 3 years as the drill writer for Upper Darby Marching Royals out of Upper Darby, PA and Downingtown East from Downingtown, PA. For the past 15 years, he has been the Assistant Marching Band Director for Belmont High School in Belmont, MA as the visual instructor, drill writer and music arranger. Evan is excited to continue to work with the talented staff and members of the Marching Marauders.
Email: etropp@belmontschools.net

Shon Brown, Percussion

Shon Brown is currently an instrumental music teacher at F.A. Day Middle School in Newton, MA. He is also the percussion instructor for the Belmont High School Band in Belmont, MA. He received his undergraduate degree from Anderson University in Anderson, SC. Shon began his career at T.L. Hanna High School in 2008 where he worked as the music arranger, visual designer, and Assistant Band Director for 10 years. He has also worked for several years as the Adjunct Jazz Professor at Erskine College in Due West, SC. He has performed with many South Carolina based ensembles including the Anderson Symphony Orchestra, South Carolina Collegiate Honor Band, GAMAC Symphony Orchestra, and the Electric City Big Band.Shon enjoys being very involved in the music community. He spends his spare time writing music for several high school bands, serving on the board of Directors for Equinox Percussion Ensemble from Athens, Georgia, and serving as the Worship Leader at Hope Community Church in Marlborough, MA. Email: browntro@newton.k12.ma.us

Alli Reese, Colorguard Coach

Coach Reese has been dancing since the age of four. She started off twirling baton at a local studio; before freshman year of high school, one of the instructors at the studio convinced her to join the Chelmsford High marching band and she was immediately hooked. Coach Reese went on to become the majorette choreographer my junior and senior year as well as captain her senior year. In the off-season, she danced in musicals and did costume design for the theatre guild. When Coach Reese went off to college at Lesley University, there was no marching band, but that didn’t stop her- she travelled 45 minutes one way on the T three times a week to march with the Boston University marching band and was captain her senior year. BU Bands was one of her favorite parts of undergrad and gave her the opportunity to travel and perform all over the northeast. During undergrad, Coach Reese also learned to swing dance and is now a nationally-ranked competitor. Coach Reese graduated from Lesley with a B.S. in Expressive Therapies & Counseling Psychology. I currently work full-time as an early intervention clinician while I pursue my master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling.
Email: areese@belmontschools.net

Allison Lacasse,
Band Director

Allison Lacasse is the Director of Bands at Belmont High School in Belmont, Massachusetts. Allison is the Artistic Director for the University of Rhode Island Summer Music Academy Chamber Music Intensive program. Other current positions include staff appointments for the Western International Band Clinic (WIBC) in Seattle, Washington and the American Band College (ABC) in Ashland, Oregon. Allison also serves as the Assistant Conductor of the Senior Massachusetts Youth Wind Ensemble as part of the New England Conservatory Preparatory School.
Email: alacasse@belmontschools.net