While wearing superhero-themed masks, the Strath Haven Panther Marching Band performed in the Media Halloween Parade on Saturday, October 26.
Annually, the Panther Marching Band performs songs for the parade. This year, the band showcased the hit Michael Jackson song ‘Thriller,’ and ‘Spice up Your Life’ by the Spice Girls.
“It [parade performance] feels so rewarding,” marching band director Nicholas Pignataro said. “The joy that the little children have on their faces and the comments we hear when we go by makes everything worth it.”
Pignataro enjoyed watching the audience’s reaction to the songs and dance breaks in the performance.
“The audience at first didn’t know what to expect, and then I’ve never heard them cheer mid-song. They did every single time,” Pignataro said. “We have a new normal. I think we figured out something that works, we’re going to have to have dances in every Halloween Parade now.”
Senior drum major Quinten Saylor has a similarly positive view on the dance breaks and hopes to implement them more in the future.
“It might have been pretty tiring after a while, but from what I heard from the public, it was very well received,” Saylor said. “A lot of people really liked the addition. I remember after we’d do the dance break, and get back up, people would start cheering and clapping, so I think that’s what’s the really important part, people loved it,” Saylor said.
In some aspects, parades are easier than compared to halftime shows, according to Pignataro. “Personally, all I’ve got to do is walk around and look great, right?” Pignataro said. “What is challenging, though, about the parades is stamina. So they have to play a lot constantly, and you don’t get a redo.”
Pignataro said that compared to half-time shows, where the audience sees all three songs, and parades, each time you play, each individual is experiencing the performance for the first time, which puts on lots of pressure and is very tiring.
Saylor also notes that parades, despite having some annoyances, can still have plenty of fun aspects.
“It all depends [on] how you look at it. If you count waiting an hour on a field, waiting to get started, that’s one way to look at it. But another way to look at it is, you get to socialize with your friends. I know some people started some stand songs by themselves. You can make it fun,” Saylor said.
The audience response makes it worth the extra weekend time for Pignataro.
“I will say that when I go into a parade, I think, ‘Oh my gosh, it’s Saturday morning. Why do I have to be here?’ And then I see the faces of the people who watch us just light up, and it makes everything worth it,” Pignataro said.
Reporter is a member of the Panther Marching Band.
