At the request of some who attended last night’s Senior / Parent / Varsity Show, below is the text of the the closing comments from the performance:
“And finally, to the students on this field. A year ago, the only thing we were worried about was where to practice.
It’s easy to compare this band to previous editions and note all of the things they didn’t have or didn’t do. Sure … the pandemic is a big part of the challenge, but they also had the added challenge of a new high school where the band room is still getting its finishing touches.
No Uniforms. No road games. No band room. No quigglies … although I’m not so sure they’re missing that. It would have been easy to give up on this season … but Jeff didn’t want that … nor Dan … nor John or Sara … or the 183 band members who showed up for the first of two days of band camp.
The message was clear that they had to stay healthy and follow the protocols. Other band programs in the area were shut down because of positive testing. They wore their masks … had their temperatures checked and learned that social distancing didn’t just mean being off your phone for three minutes.
Because there was no band room they had to keep their instruments at home. Whether it was a flute in an SUV or a Tuba in sub compact, they lugged their instruments everywhere we rehearsed.
Even a rainout on their first performance couldn’t dampen their sprit.
This band did something that no other band before them has EVER had to do. In 100 years during the next pandemic, people will flock to the Berea-Midpark Band website to look at photos of this band and marvel at how they persevered in the face of unprecedented circumstances.
THEY might remember what they didn’t have or do, but history won’t forget one of the proudest editions of the Pride of the Titans.
Ladies and Gentleman … One more time … This IS the Berea-Midpark Titan Marching Band!”