The Tiger Club

The Hackettstown High School Marching Band’s show for the 2024 season is the Tiger Club, inspired by the 1920s Cotton Club in Harlem, New York, based on the mob gangsters that ran the bootlegging industry. The show includes music such as Rhapsody in Blue, by George Gershwin; Harlem Nocturne, by Earle Hagen; Smooth Criminal, by Michael Jackson; and Children's Hour of Dream, by Charles Mingus. The music was composed together by Adam Freeman, Mikey Donica, and M Monaghan. The marching band can be seen wearing suits and fedoras, popularized at the time. To add more challenge, the band included choreography with crates and chairs,  and a stage to showcase the solos that play throughout the show. The setting of the beginning movement showcases the inside of a speakeasy starring senior member Julia Pekala who starts off the show with a solo, as the rest of the band and guard are shown to be mob bosses enjoying the rhythms of jazz. Leading off from Julia is senior member Seamus Vaniman on tenor saxophone who continues until the band comes in. As movement two begins, more criminal activity happens with solos from Seamus, along with a duet between sophomore member Izzy Donica and senior member Kristen Stone. In the final movement, junior member Zach Johson finishes the show while the band is caught and jailed by the authorities. As the show progresses, so does the criminal activity as it becomes more apparent and increases. Along with this, it is added on to create choreography that the guard performs.

  The members have worked tirelessly to perfect the show in order to give incredible performances. While continuing to strengthen the basics, they add new visuals and choreography to increase the intensity of the performance. The marching band works throughout the week even this late into the season. Monday is tape review, where members listen to judges’ tapes in order to learn what they can improve from the last performance. Tuesday and Thursday are the main days they spend practicing the show on the practice field (the field below the senior parking lot and by the junior parking lot), and Wednesday is dedicated to sectionals, where each section of the marching band works on the music in order to keep it progressively improving. However, a difficult challenge the marching band has been having to deal with is the weather. This fall, many rain showers have come through New Jersey, causing difficulties with scheduling practices or competitions. On October 14, the Lenape Valley Competition was canceled due to the impending weather. When asked about the rain, senior marching band member Julia Pekala, the Brass section leader, explains how she thinks that “the rain has placed a dent in not only our schedule but our energy as well,” but that the band “can push through and keep improving the show.” Rain is the worst factor the marching band has to deal with due to the damage it can cause to the pit equipment, instruments that are dealing with the fluctuating weather, and the guard equipment, as the wind can make the tosses more dangerous. Despite these challenges, the marching band has been able to not let the weather ruin their performances and are able to push through in increasing their score each week. 

The practicing has shown significant improvement to the scores and placement because the marching band has had an incredible season so far, taking first place in the Ramsey High School Marching Band competition, and third place at the Met Life competition, while it was pouring rain. Additionally, they received 1st place at North Warren and Vernon competitions on October 21. Interviews with the band relieved the enjoyment and excitement for the marching band show this season and how far the show has come. When asked about the season, Zach Johnson said, “I feel that it's one of the most unique shows we’ve done and I’ve seen.” Anyone in the marching band can tell that the season goes by quickly with lots of jam-packed with ranging playing skills from each individual instrument, challenging choreography involving both chairs and crates, and emotional intrigue for the audience.  If interested in joining the marching band in the future, consider coming to the interest meeting in March to see what next season holds.