The 2016-2017 Somerset Berkley Regional High School “Blue Raider” Marching Band is led by Drum Majors Jeffrey Silvia & Katelyn Correira, Horn Sergeant William Medeiros, Color Guard Captain Emily Belisle, Battery Percussion Captain Juliette Beaulieu, & Pit Percussion Captain William McNulty. A community sponsored organization; the Blue Raider Marching Band has proudly marched down the Main Street of Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom, Epcot Center and was the first high school marching band to march at MGM Studios. In addition to the band’s woodwind and brass sections, the band includes battery and pit percussion sections as well as the color guard. After tryouts in the spring, the band practices throughout the summer on a weekly basis in preparation for the Fall NESBA & USBANDS Competition Field Show Seasons. All members are helped financially by the Music Department and the Somerset Friends of Music to attend additional summer camps to further develop their skills in the marching arts. In November of 2015, the SBRHS “Blue Raider” Marching Band traveled to Dover (DE) for the 2015 USBANDS National Marching Band Championships and won the 2015 USBANDS Division 1A National Championship as well as receiving the Cadets Award of Excellence and the Division 1A National Caption Awards for Best Music, Best Percussion, Best Color Guard, and Best Visual.
This year’s field show is arranged by our director David M. Marshall with Battery Percussion by Percussion Coordinator Wesley Sullivan and Pit Percussion by Front Ensemble Percussion Instructor Brandon Carrita entitled "...THE HARDER THEY FALL" and is presented in four movements (Jack and the Beanstalk, Gulliver's Travels, David and Goliath, and The Bigger They Are...). This season, in addition to football game halftime performances and Grand Day festivities, the band will also performed their field show at the Putnam High School USBands Marching Band Show on September 17, Blackstone/Millville Regional High School USBands Marching Band Show on September 24, King Philip Regional High School USBands Marching Band Show on October 1, Dartmouth High School USBands Marching Band Show on October 8, Cranston East USBands Marching Band Show on October 15, New Bedford High School NESBA Marching Band Show on October 16, Somerset Berkley Regional High School NESBA Marching Band Show on October 22, USBands New England Championships in New Britain, CT on October 29, NESBA Championship Marching Band Finals at Lawrence High School on October 30, USBands National Championships at J. Birney Crum Stadium in Allentown, PA on November 5, as well as marching in the Quincy Christmas Parades, Fall River Christmas Parades, Taunton Christmas Parades and the Stoughton Parade of Lights.
MARCHING BAND RESULTS:
Putnam High School, CT: 1st Place - 72.05 - Best Music and Best Visual
Medway High School, MA: 1st Place - 74.015 - Best Music, Best Visual, and Best Overall Effect (BLACKSTONE-MILLVILLE'S HOME SHOW)
King Phillip Regional High School, MA: 1st Place - 76.15 - Best Music, Best Visual, and Best Overall Effect (INDOOR PERFORMANCE DUE TO RAIN)
Dartmouth High School, MA: 1st Place - 78.50 - Best Music, Best Visual, and Best Overall Effect
Cranston East High School, RI: 1st Place - 80.25 - Best Music, Best Visual, and Best Overall Effect
New Bedford High School, MA: NESBA - 2nd Place - 81.4
Somerset Berkley Regional High School, MA: NESBA - 2nd Place - 88.4 - Best Percussion
NEW BRITAIN, CT: USBANDS NEW ENGLAND CHAMPIONSHIPS - 1st PLACE IN MA AND NEW ENGLAND - 85.100 - Best Music, Best Percussion, Best Color Guard, Best Visual, and Best Overall Effect
MEDFORD, MA: NESBA FINALS - 2nd PLACE WITH PLATINUM MEDAL - 95.50 - Best Percussion
ALLENTOWN, PA: USBANDS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS - 2nd PLACE WITH SILVER MEDAL - 93.61 - Best Color Guard and the United States Marine Corps Award for Professionalism and Conduct on and off the field
Quincy, MA: Quincy Christmas Parade - 2nd Place in Division 2 and 3rd Place Overall- Best Percussion
Concert Band
Concert Band is an elected/selected course of study open to all students in grades 9–12. Students maybe auditioned for placement within the ensemble or assigned for placement within the ensemble depending upon the needs of the ensemble by the Director of Bands.Participation in Concert Band encourages the intellectual, musical and social development of the individual through performance of music of excellent quality. In addition, all members are strongly encouraged to take private instrumental lessons outside of the school day to further enhance the quality of their musical experience with the ensemble. Loyalty to the school through cooperation with other departments in presenting musical programs is stressed; participation in school concerts, music festivals, exchange concerts, local civic events and All-State festivals provide opportunity for both recreation and development of intellectual and aesthetic interest