CR North Marching Band soars to second place in championship

The Council Rock North Marching Band capped a triumphant return to the competition circuit by winning the Silver Finalist award at the Cavalcade of Bands championship in Hershey.
The comeback, after a break from competing last year due to the pandemic, also earned the 59-member ensemble the High Visual Performance award in the Liberty Conference A Class division on November 13.
The band finished with an overall score of 92.355 – less than a point behind the first-place band. It’s believed to be the highest score ever earned by the Newtown-based high school in a Cavalcade of Bands competition, according to school officials (Upper Moreland High School took the top prize in the division with a score of 93.225).
The CR North Marching Band performed its 2021 show “Shattered,” which “picks up where the fairy tale left off: the wicked queen is no more, but although the evil that lived within her mirror is broken and weak, it is far from defeated,” according the program description.
In weekly Cavalcade of Bands competitions leading up to Hershey, the band had finished in first place twice and second place three times. At each contest, including the championship, a panel of judges evaluated the band on a variety of specific musical and visual techniques.
CR North Director of Bands Wayne Bishop said the improvement he and the staff had seen from this band throughout the season was truly impressive.

“They were excited to get into character and perform for the audience. They wanted to execute well, and they put in the work to do so,” said Bishop, who is in his seventh year as band director.
“For the junior and senior members, there was a renewed sense of appreciation for a full, competitive marching band season. Their love for the activity was infectious, welcoming the sophomore and freshman members to the joys of the activity.”
In addition to the competitions, the CR North Marching Band performed at CR North football games, the Newtown Halloween Parade, and at the Washington Crossing holiday tree lighting ceremony.
The public can see and hear the CR North Marching Band in the Newtown Holiday Parade at 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 5, and at a free Winter Concert at the Newtown Middle School at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 21. In addition, the band’s drum line and color guard will compete in indoor competitions this winter, two more free concerts are scheduled in the spring, and the band will march in Newtown’s Memorial Day Parade.
To learn more, visit their website at CRNBand.org.

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