Medina band wins several 1st place awards at Gorham

Provided photo  – Seniors in the Medina Marching Band hold some of the trophies the band won during the 55th Gorham Band Pageant.

Courtesy of Medina Marching Band

MEDINA – The Marcus Whitman Central School District held its 55th Gorham Band Pageant June 3-4 with 16 schools participating, including eight in the parade.

Medina’s Middle and High School jazz bands took 1st place. Medina’s Middle School concert band and the High School Wind Ensemble also won 1st.

There was no grand champion this year, but the bands were divided into 3 classes and each had a class champion with Medina winning first from medium-sized schools. Other winners include: Small school, South Seneca; Large, Baldwinsville.

Medina also won awards for best color guard, best HS jazz soloist with Medina’s 2 trombone players, Kyla Leno and Meghan Allen; best jazz brass and rhythm and woodwinds.

The Robert Steele award was started in 1994 and named after Jim Steele’s father who was the band director in Gorham for 37 years and started this pageant. This year’s recipient was Kimberly Lyons, a Marcus Whitman booster.

The Medina Band program is under the direction of Jim Steele and assisted by Rebecca Botsford. The official end of this season is marked by the band banquet on June 11.