Newcastle High School Band personnel look forward to a new school year, and have been working towards a successful marching season.
Head Band Director Ryan Siebert said he is excited and feels like the band is in a good place. He said he knows they’ve prepared as much as they can for the first football games, and he’s ready to see how the band’s work ethic evolves.
Assistant Band Director Whitney Callen said she is excited because their first show is very fun and the audience will easily be able to connect. She said even though the band is young this year, everyone is doing an amazing job and all of the freshmen on the drum line have done well. She added that Johnny Tisby has stood out the most.
Braxton Cyrus, the upper woodwind section leader, said, “We have come further than we have in previous years, especially with an extremely talented group, and more experience from our directors.”
Cyrus said he would point out the work put in by Tisby, Hunter Duggan and Thelma Amudzi. Cyrus said they understand how hard they have to work, especially with the foundation that’s been laid for them.
The band’s first contest is on September 21 at Deer Creek High School in Edmond. They’ll have another contest October 5 when they attend the Southwest Showdown at Elgin High School. On October 22, they’ll take part at the OSSAA Marching Regionals contest at Cameron University in Lawton.
Although not a competition, the band will then participate October 24 at the Tri City Showcase at Blanchard. Newcastle joins with Tuttle, Blanchard and Bridge Creek for this event. Siebert said it is normally held at Newcastle, but the school system felt it would be better held somewhere else this year since there is so much construction underway at Newcastle High School.
Siebert said the band is also in the process of designing new marching uniforms. These will be purchased through bond issue money the public approved. The new uniform design was presented to the school board during a meeting earlier this week.
Newcastle Bands are experiencing growth, according to Siebert. The high school band grew by 15 kids this year. The middle school is currently at about 100 students. Siebert said that just a few years ago, the middle school only had 50 students.
