Medina Marching Band takes 2nd at state championships in Syracuse

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 2 November 2026 at 11:56 am

Photos courtesy of Medina Band Boosters: The Medina Marching Band performs on Sunday at the former Carrier Dome, now known as the JMA Wireless Dome in Syracuse.

The Medina Marching Band took a close second during the championships on Sunday in Syracuse for the New York State Field Band Conference.

Oswego edged Medina for the title in the Small School 2 Division.

The scores for the nine marching bands in the division include: Oswego, first at 89.550; Medina, second at 88.300; Mohonasen, third at 86.975; Le Roy, fourth at 86.800; Jordan-Elbridge, fifth at 84.900; Horseheads, sixth at 83.250; Westmoreland, seventh at 82.750; Johnson City, eighth at 81.175; and Vestal, ninth at 80.600.

The state champions include Walt Whitman in Large School 3, Greece in Large School 2, Norwich in Small School 3, Oswego in Small School 2, Mineola in Small School 1, and Arlington in National.

Medina was one of 50 bands in 6 classes that performed during the championships.

Medina’s show is called “We The People” and celebrates the nation’s 250th anniversary with the music of Aaron Copeland.

The band consists of 90 students and is directed by Kyla Leno-Denise and Andrea Busch. The band is led on the field by drum major Sophia Lopez. The group performed in new uniforms this year.