Intense week of Band Camp gets Medina ready for another season of field band

Photos by Tom Rivers

MEDINA – Lyla Page, the back field conductor, helps direct the Medina field band on Thursday evening during a preview show for parents at Vets Park. Some of the students leaders wore capes during the preview show.

Mackenzie McGrath, the drum major, is on an elevated platform on the other side.

The band has about 90 students and did the preview show during band camp which went from about noon to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, with today’s camp from noon to 4 p.m.

The band does a run-through of this year’s show, “Reflections.” The band camp is usually held in a parking lot at the high school, but that area is under construction this summer. The camp instead was held at Vets Park.

These band members keep their focus on their music and the right steps during the preview show.

The season starts on Sept. 14 in Hilton. Medina hosts the “Fall Festival of Bands” on Sept. 21. The season concludes on Oct. 27 with the championships in Syracuse.

River Jones plays the trumpet in the band.

Matt Jaeger, the band director, praised the students for working hard all week, including in the heat.

The band has 14 seniors this year, up from six last year. The band is continuing to rebuild after the Covid pandemic knocked down the numbers.

Here are some more photos from the preview show.