One more chance to see award-winning Kittatinny High School band

NEWTON — The Kittatinny Regional High School Marching Band dispels the stereotype of band geeks. Members include a Solar Sprint winner, a few Eagle Scouts, a varsity cross-country runner, a neo-hippy artist with multi-colored hair, and a variety of actors, singers, and dancers who can be found on stage in the school’s theatrical productions. The personal interests of these performers are as diverse as the Kittatinny student population itself. But when the band members puts on their uniforms and march onto the field, they share one common interest: the show. Just four years ago, Kittatinny did not have a marching band - not really. They were just a handful of very talented musicians who wore matching trousers and T-shirts, playing pep tunes at the football games. Today, that image is ancient history and there were many people who were responsible for that transition. It took the enthusiasm and motivation of new Band Director Jarred Matthes, coupled with the continuous effort and dedication of a very active parent volunteer group, to start the ball rolling. With the wholehearted support of Kittatinny’s administrative team and the community at large, the number of band members has grown to 58 and they have become a sharply-attired, precision marching band that now includes an eight-member color guard that adds pageantry. The student performers most recently placed first in their division at the USSBA competition in Vernon, receiving highest marks in all categories. The Kittatinny Marching Band has paraded down Main Street in Disney World, and they have been featured in several national magazines, including the “Teaching Music” publication from the Music Education National Conference and Disney’s “On Stage” pamphlet. There is one more home game scheduled, Saturday, Nov. 7 at 2:30 p.m., where people can catch the band’s performance. This year’s program consists of selections from Cirque du Soleil’s “La Nouba” (which loosely translates to “Live it up” or “Party”).