Medina Marching Band takes 1st at home show

Photos courtesy of Cindy Busch: The Medina Mustang Band performs against a backdrop of important leaders in the United States’ history at the Fall Festival of Bands on Saturday night at Veterans’ Memorial Park. The show titled “We the People” celebrates the nation’s 250th anniversary and features the music of Aaron Copeland.

MEDINA – The Fall Festival of Bands brought out a crowd to Veterans’ Memorial Park Saturday night to see their hometown band and half a dozen other area bands perform under a perfect sky.

Competing bands were Medina in SS2 class, with a first-place score of 74.60, followed by Le Roy with 72.10; in SS3, Marcus Whitman was first with 70.30, Pioneer, second with 66.30 and Falconer-Freesburg, third, with 64.60; and in LS2, Greece, first, with 78.85 and West Seneca, second, with 74.30.

Medina’s show, “We the People” pays tribute to the country’s 250th anniversary, and is performed by 92 students in grades 7 through 12.

The program also paid tribute to the late John Ryan, who was a color guard instructor for Medina and was involved with several other marching organizations. He passed away at age 85 on Aug. 17. His career with the Mustang Marching Band started in 1975 and spanned 30 years, serving with Mustang Band directors Joe McKain and Jim Steele. As director of the Mustang Winter Guard, it grew to become one of the highest ranked in the United States.

The horns are featured here as they perform in front of a portrait of Abraham Lincoln.

Two people in Saturday’s crowd were twins Darlene Rich and Sharlene Pratt, both of Medina and both former band members. They attend the Festival of Bands every year, they said.

“Once a Mustang Band member, always a Mustang Band member,” Pratt said.

The sisters said not only they, but their older sister Fonda was in the band under Joe McKain.

“Regardless of the weather, we always come to watch the band,” Rich said. “We have sat here under umbrellas in the pouring rain. This is our ‘ladies night out.’”

The sisters said they get goosebumps when they see Medina’s show this year.

“It brings tears to your eyes,” Rich said.

The evening  also featured a 50/50 drawing.

The Mustang Band currently sits in third place in Smal School II in the New York State Field Band Conference, behind Oswego and Mohanasen, with Medina one point out of first place. They compete against Oswego next Saturday in their division. Oswego High School is located at 2 Buccaneer Blvd. The show starts at 6:30.

The Mustang Marching Band is lined on the end of the field at Vets Park.

Provided photo: Seniors in the band pose for a photo on Saturday.