The Worcester Telegram & Gazette recently featured a photo gallery of the first annual New England Collegiate Marching Band Festival, hosted by the College of the Holy Cross on Sunday, Oct. 5. The festival is a new performance opportunity for collegiate marching bands to come together and perform their fall field productions without the added stressors that accompany a football game or high school competition: its purpose—“ Music for Life’s Sake.” The festival was the third largest gathering of marching bands in the country and featured 2100 performers as well as 1900 spectators.
A local parade band kicked off the festival with the National Anthem, followed by 20 minute performances by each of the participating schools.
The 10 college bands that performed included the Boston College “Screaming Eagles” Marching Band, Boston University Marching Band, Bowie State Symphony of Soul Marching Band, Central Connecticut State University Blue Devil Marching Band, College of the Holy Cross “Goodtime” Marching Band, Marist College Red Fox Marching Band, Sacred Heart University Pioneer Marching Band, University of Connecticut Marching Band, University of Massachusetts Lowell River Hawks Marching Band, University of New Hampshire Wildcat Marching Band, and University of New Haven Chargers Marching Band.
This “Holy Cross in the News” item by Jacqueline Smith ’15.
