Marching Knights Step Off in Spooky Style

As the sounds of booming drums, luscious chords, and flags and rifles being caught echo throughout Long Island, an ominous feeling is in the air across the Sewanhaka Central School District. The Marching Knights of Sewanhaka Competitive Marching Band kicked off the 2024 competitive field band season this summer with their production, “Paranormal.”

In case you don’t know, the Marching Knights of Sewanhaka Band is the district marching band that competes in various shows across Long Island and New York State, culminating in a trip to Syracuse University to compete in the New York State Field Band Conference Championships in the JML Wireless Dome. In 2023, the original Floral Park competitive program opened their doors to the entire district and have since been greatly successful, setting a program record score of 82.85 in a competition at Norwich High School last year.

The goal for this year is to keep the momentum going into this season, as the program continues to grow. Their 2024 production, “Paranormal,” is about discovering horrors beyond our reality and being unable to defeat them. Over the course of this 7-minute show, the ghosts of the color guard slowly take over the band, fully possessing them in the end. “I absolutely love this year’s music. I think it’s one of the most exciting pieces we’ve done in a long time,” said Angelina Pecorella, senior at Floral Park Memorial and drum major of the band.

However, there is a lot more to the Marching Knights than just playing and marching. When asked about what marching band means to her, Angelina said, “It’s so much more than what people think it is. Yes, there is the performance aspect but the best part is meeting amazing people and getting to be a part of something so much bigger than yourself.” The time management, cooperation, overcoming adversity, and work ethic skills obtained during the season have a lifelong effect on every member involved, as well. “It’s a lot like a team, and a lot like a family, very similar to a sports team. While we’re still building our culture as a new program, we’re very hardworking and everyone knows that putting in the work leads to success, from the rookies to the veterans. It’s a big foundation to our culture,” said Mr. Povolny, director of the marching band. “I love being the director because once I walk off the field and they say ‘you may now enter competition,’ I don’t do anything. The band is driven by the students, and year after year they just get better and better. It’s amazing to see the hard work pay off.”

For the new members of the band from Sewanhaka, it has been a great experience so far unlike any other. Alan Perez, a sophomore at Sewanhaka who only began learning music this summer, has learned a lot through the band. “I love being able to learn and play a new instrument. Being in the band also made me a lot less anxious and more confident in myself,” he said. “Honestly, in the first couple days, it was hard, and I felt like quitting multiple times. But I’ve stuck with it, and I’ve improved so much, now I love it,” explains Demari Francis, a sophomore who plays the violin at Sewanhaka, and xylophone in the band’s front ensemble. “If you’re interested in joining, you definitely should next year. It will be hard, but the skills you learn, memories you make, and friendships you keep last long after the season ends.”

The Marching Knights began their tour September 15th at Brentwood High School, and will soon play at Copiague, Malverne, Sachem, and Mineola, ending at the Newsday Marching Band Festival on October 23rd and state championships in Syracuse on October 27th. We wish you all the best, and good luck!