The York High Marching Falcons took home two consecutive Grand Champion titles in the 2021 season for the first time in over 5 years. At the Powhatan High School Band Invitational, the band won 2nd place music, colorguard, visual, and percussion, 1st place general effect, 1st place band in class 5A, and overall Grand Champion. At the Kecoughtan Warrior Classic, the band received 1st place music, visual, general effect, percussion, and colorguard, 1st place band in class 4A and scored highest of all competing bands, taking the Grand Champion slot again.
“It was really special for me because seeing the band be successful is amazing. You get to see all the little parts come together. It made me feel really special and like all the hard work paid off,” said YHS band senior and clarinet section leader Jesse Eagle. The band rehearsed after school Monday-Thursday each week, worked in class, and practiced the morning of each competition, adding up to nearly 20 hours of practice on top of school. The hard work that Eagle mentions is certainly no joke.
Senior and trumpet section leader MaryGrace Dickinson said, “You need to have the passion. If you want to succeed, you’ll make it so you can succeed.” The band’s rehearsal schedule and agenda are ultimately determined by the willingness of band members to commit, as well as their passion for their craft. The band classes reflect upon judge tapes after each competition to understand the areas in which they fall short, and they dedicate their time to improving before placing the show in front of another audience.
Caleb Richardson, a senior baritone player, said the most rewarding part of receiving a grand champion title is “watching all of the younglings getting the feeling of winning for the first time, they want it again.” Richardson and his peers, especially fellow seniors, facilitated student-led sectional rehearsals once a week throughout the season to build bonds with their bandmates and give individual playing and marching critiques.
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