The Beat Goes On For Marching Bucs

August 12, 2010 Contributor

OSWEGO, NY – Through heat, rain, cold and mud the beat goes on.

The percussion section is ready to go as several members of the group are seen practicing during Oswego High School Marching Bucs band camp.
The percussion section is ready to go as several members of the group are seen practicing during Oswego High School Marching Bucs band camp.

Those conditions might make you think of the person who delivers mail, but those are also the elements that members of the “Pride of Oswego,” the Oswego High School Marching Buccaneers, must overcome in practicing and competing in representing their school and community.

The 2010 edition of the Oswego High School Marching Buccaneers will make its debut on Sept. 11 at East Syracuse-Minoa in the first competition of the New York State Field Band Conference season.

August means that “band camp” is here for the 91 members of the Marching Bucs.

Director Stephen Defren noted, “This year our show is entitled ‘The Proper Ornaments of Life’ and it explores what is truly important in life and what really makes us happy.”

Even though the “camp” is the official kickoff for the season members of the Marching Bucs have been working diligently throughout the early portion of the summer to learn music and study drill formations.

This year’s program will be very interesting and unique.

There will also be a new look when the Marching Bucs, led by drum Major Jacqueline Hondro, take the field for competition.

Defren said, “The music is from a band with New York State roots call the ‘Free Design’ and we are using four songs by them.”

The Bucs will be playing and marching to “The Music Room,” “Umbrellas,” “The Proper Ornaments” and “Kites are Fun.”

The local highlight for the Marching Bucs will be the 32nd Pageant of Champions at Joe Wilber Field in Oswego on Sept. 25 at 5:30 p.m.

Vying in this year’s show are National Division bands West Genesee, Webster, Cicero-North Syracuse, Liverpool, Victor and Central Square with the Marching Bucs in exhibition.

Also performing in competition will be Auburn, Phoenix, East Irondequoit, Norwich, Jordan-Elbridge and East Syracuse-Minoa.

This year the band will compete in NYSFBC shows at East Syracuse-Minoa, Cicero-North Syracuse, Auburn, New Hartford and Liverpool.

The Marching Bucs will also compete in the Bands of America Regional Championship in Towson, Maryland, and will vie in the NYSFBC Championships in the Syracuse University Carrier Dome on Oct. 31. missing or outdated ad config

Print this entry