Parkside HS Band celebrates National Championship win

SALISBURY, Md – The Parkside High School Band is celebrating a National Championship win this weekend with their performance of Echoes of the Sea, hot off their win at States last week.

The school band Director says for the Seniors part of the band, their time in High School was marked with COVID disruptions and multiple setbacks, making their performance and win even more commendable.

“This is something that we’ve been hoping for all season. It’s a culmination of four years since the pandemic. We’ve had we had 23 seniors, my 23 freshmen in my first year here, and those 23 freshmen turn into four seniors. So it’s really nice to have that moment for them,” said Band Director  Spencer Koppenol.

The victorious band bus was escorted from Delmar to the High School by a police and fire escort, letting the whole community know the scale of their accomplishment.

Spencer Koppenol says their show- Echoes of the Sea- drew an emotional reaction from judges- with its themes of stepping up to save the planet- from climate change.

“We’ve actually had like judges that said that we like, change their outlook on life and like, I don’t know, that’s a good feeling,” said Senior Sophia Overholt.

“I’m just so happy to put on the best show we ever had and just make it fun, just like coming off that field, knowing that like, I had fun and I got to do what I love with the people I love is just the best part,” said Senior Briana Truitt.

Students say the performance saw all kinds of instruments working together as one award-winning unit.

“As I was conducting, I was feeling everyone’s like everyone’s part was coming to play,” said Senior Monica Reza-Rios.

“You wouldn’t think that your singular instrument would be such a big contribution to the band. But like everyone’s parts make up like the big part of the whole band. So, like, everyone is like part of this when and where, like, everyone is the reason that we won,” said Senior Nneka Chigbu.

Koppenol says the national championship saw competitive shows from all schools, but they had some extremely talented students to help set them apart and clinch the 1st place prize.

“We have two flugelhorn soloists this year, Briana Truitt and Lilea Taylor and they absolutely blew us away from band camp, we had a lot of people in the community band directors coming up and saying that this flugelhorn solo is beautiful. It made the whole show,” Koppenol said.

But students say, from the countless practices to the hours spent rehearsing and more, the entire victory is the result of a multi-year team effort.

“It’s really nice to know that like, we’ve made an impact in that people we care and, like, want to support us. I’m glad we got to do it together,” Truitt said.

The students also saw a parade throughout the halls of the high school Monday morning, and are set to perform the now award-winning set this Friday at their Parkside Rams football game.