EAST RUTHERFORD NJ – Several Connecticut high school marching bands got high marks in the U.S. Bands Open Class National Championships Saturday night.
The Newtown Nighthawks Band and Color Guard won the National Championship in Group IV Open, with an overall score of 97.363, according to the USBands. Naugatuck High School placed ninth overall in the same group, with an overall score of 93.675.
Norwalk High School Marching Band received the highest overall score among Connecticut bands competing on Saturday, winning Group VI Open with a score of 97.775. Trumbull High School Golden Eagle Marching Band was a close second in Group VI with an overall score of 97.613, only .162 out of first place. They were also awarded Best Percussion, Best Color Guard and Best Visual, according to their Facebook page.
The Southington High School Marching Band placed fifth in Group VI, with a score of 94.838.
The competition was held at Met Life Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey and featured some of the best high school bands in the country. The Southington Blue Knights competed against seven other teams in their division.
Sara Ossias, the director of bands at Southington High School said, “it’s what we work for all season.”
The Cheshire High School Marching Ram Band were the highest ranking Connecticut band in Group V Open, placing fifth overall in their group with a score of 94.038. Francis T. Maloney High School Marching Band also performed in Group V, scoring 91.263 and ranking ninth overall in their group.
