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Norwalk's Marching Bears Begin Stepping Off At Band Camp

NORWALK, Conn. -- Members of the Norwalk High School Marching Bears Band and Color Guard began the grueling annual right of passage known as "Band Camp."

Norwalk High School's Marching Band began 12-hour band camps last week.

Norwalk High School's Marching Band began 12-hour band camps last week.

Photo Credit: Daily Voice File Photo

All 150-plus members of the Band/Guard assemble at 8:30 in the morning and play, march, play and march some more until they are finally dismissed at 8:30 at night. They will drill come rain or shine – mostly on the hot blacktop of the Andrews Field parking lot. During the course of this period they will be learning 95 pages of drill material.

This year, the band is made up of 30 percussion, 100 wind and 25 Guard members. Their program this year is entitled "The Dance of the Matador," which shall portray in music, march and formation a day in the life of a Spanish matador.

Director Chris Rivera is excited about the upcoming season.

“This show is shaping up to be another great NHS Marching Band Production. The music is intense, rhythmic and powerful and when we combine that with the bold colors from the color guard I think we will have something great.,'' Rivera said. "The students and staff are all very excited because we are not only competing in our usual MAC CT State Championship, but we are also competing in a USBands National Championship in Met Life Stadium.  There will be bands competing there from all across the Eastern part of the country.  We are all looking forward to another great season.”

The Marching Bears have taken the MAC Championship two years in a row.

Norwalk's practice sessions at night are open to the public.

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