Getting to Know the Nottingham Marching Unit
by Kathryn Dunn
For the 2021 season, the Nottingham Marching Unit is competing in six competitions. Students in the Marching Unit have been preparing for its 2021 season since the summer, but what is a marching unit and what does the Nottingham Marching Unit do? Let’s talk about it.
Nottingham High School’s band and marching unit director, Mrs. Jennifer Klek told Star Status, “A marching unit is a band that does many different jobs. We create and execute a halftime show with many different pictures called sets that we march while we are playing. We also play in the stands during games or pep rallies etc, which we call pep band. We also march in parades for Memorial Day, St Patrick's Day or even on Main Street in Walt Disney World.” This season there are 39 members of the Marching Unit, performing on numerous flutes, clarinets, saxophones, trumpets, mellophones, baritones, tubas, in the drumline, the front ensemble, and the color guard.
The Marching Unit is under the direction of Mrs. Jennifer Klek and Mr. Jarret Susswein. The color guard is under the direction of Mr. Matthew DiBiase, and percussion is under the direction of Mr. Kyle Seeley. Students also function as leaders in the Marching Unit called drum majors. This season Aidan Fox and Evan Vistoso are serving as drum majors. Being a part of the Marching Unit can be tougher than most believe. One of the hardest skills performers must learn is “playing the instrument and marching at the same time because you really need coordination to master it,” says Drum Major Aidan Fox. Nevertheless there are always rewards for hard work. Being in the Marching Unit gives you the opportunity to make friends, see other bands perform, go to competitions and football games, and sharpen your musical skills.
The Marching Unit would not be complete, however, without the color guard. For the 2021 season, Mia Kerollis is serving as the color guard captain. The color guard functions to “add a storyline and some eye catching movement to the marching band performances,” explained Mia Kerollis. The color guard performance is always eye-catching and adds a flare of color to the performance. However, the work can be dangerous if tricks are performed incorrectly. “The hardest move though is a quad toss with the rifle. It is an extremely advanced color guard move and very dangerous if done wrong. During one of our performances, Melissa, one of the guard members, was hit in the throat because I wasn’t able to catch the toss correctly. We changed some things and no one has been injured ever since,” said Mia Kerollis.
The Marching Unit has been practicing for their field show, “Paranormal”, since July, working on marching, playing, technique, and visuals. New members are always welcomed for upcoming seasons no matter the experience. The Nottingham Marching Unit is a “family and community among my fellow band members,” Evan Vistoso told Star Status. It is an ever changing and growing family of musicians who love to perform and are always reaching new heights.
Nottingham High School’s band and marching unit director, Mrs. Jennifer Klek told Star Status, “A marching unit is a band that does many different jobs. We create and execute a halftime show with many different pictures called sets that we march while we are playing. We also play in the stands during games or pep rallies etc, which we call pep band. We also march in parades for Memorial Day, St Patrick's Day or even on Main Street in Walt Disney World.” This season there are 39 members of the Marching Unit, performing on numerous flutes, clarinets, saxophones, trumpets, mellophones, baritones, tubas, in the drumline, the front ensemble, and the color guard.
The Marching Unit is under the direction of Mrs. Jennifer Klek and Mr. Jarret Susswein. The color guard is under the direction of Mr. Matthew DiBiase, and percussion is under the direction of Mr. Kyle Seeley. Students also function as leaders in the Marching Unit called drum majors. This season Aidan Fox and Evan Vistoso are serving as drum majors. Being a part of the Marching Unit can be tougher than most believe. One of the hardest skills performers must learn is “playing the instrument and marching at the same time because you really need coordination to master it,” says Drum Major Aidan Fox. Nevertheless there are always rewards for hard work. Being in the Marching Unit gives you the opportunity to make friends, see other bands perform, go to competitions and football games, and sharpen your musical skills.
The Marching Unit would not be complete, however, without the color guard. For the 2021 season, Mia Kerollis is serving as the color guard captain. The color guard functions to “add a storyline and some eye catching movement to the marching band performances,” explained Mia Kerollis. The color guard performance is always eye-catching and adds a flare of color to the performance. However, the work can be dangerous if tricks are performed incorrectly. “The hardest move though is a quad toss with the rifle. It is an extremely advanced color guard move and very dangerous if done wrong. During one of our performances, Melissa, one of the guard members, was hit in the throat because I wasn’t able to catch the toss correctly. We changed some things and no one has been injured ever since,” said Mia Kerollis.
The Marching Unit has been practicing for their field show, “Paranormal”, since July, working on marching, playing, technique, and visuals. New members are always welcomed for upcoming seasons no matter the experience. The Nottingham Marching Unit is a “family and community among my fellow band members,” Evan Vistoso told Star Status. It is an ever changing and growing family of musicians who love to perform and are always reaching new heights.