Trumbull High School Band

I parked in front of the Trumbull High School band room one day while waiting to take my son to the mall. This is where my high school junior and three year member of the award-winning Trumbull HS Golden Eagle Marching Band asks to be picked up. As I sit there observing from a short distance, it is then that I realize just how much the entire scene reminds me of bees around their bee hive. I sit there watching as members of the marching band come out to meet their parents, or in the case of seniors and some juniors, go to their own cars to drive home after a long day of school. The color guard members and musicians run back and forth to relay messages to parents or to retrieve forgotten books, various articles of clothing, and instruments. I smile as I  recall footage I have seen on National Geographic of bees flying in and out of their hives. When my son comes to the car, I ask him if there is a band class or a guard class at the end of the day to which he replies “No.”
The THS band room is more than just another entrance/exit for the 132 Golden Eagles. With six or more doors by which to exit the school, they choose one. In most cases, there is absolutely no reason to return to the band room at the end of the day. Surely, there are doors much closer to their last class, their lockers or their parked cars. No, these doors are very different. These are doors to their home away from home, their safe haven, their bee hive. These are doors to a room in which they have spent countless hours not only practicing their instruments and spinning rifles but also doors to a happy place in which they have built beautiful and positive memories to last a lifetime. Like bees, it is as though they feel protected from the turmoil, and, unfortunately, even dangers that kids can sometimes face in a high school.
Yes, the Trumbull High School band room is like a bee hive and their beautiful music is like their honey. How ironic that the school colors are black and gold.

By Susan Gooden

THSGEMB is in the news helping to kick off Good Morning America’s Warm Coats and Warm Hearts Drive. In its second year, the band has been collecting coats that will benefit the Bridgeport Rescue Mission. Last year they collected well over 3,000 coats and hopes to collect even more this year. The band has been humbled by the generous support of the community and organizes the coat drive as a way to express its gratitude.

 About 20 members of the band performed live on GMA this morning. If you missed all the fun this morning, click on the following links.

http://abcnews.go.com/video/playerIndex?id=9153006

http://www.connpost.com/news/ci_13849868?source=rss

This just in – About 20 members of the Trumbull High School Golden Eagle Marching band will appear on the national broadcast of ABC’s Good Morning America (GMA) on Monday, November 23rd, for the second year in a row.
The students, representing different sections of the band, will perform live outside the GMA studio in New York City. In addition to performing, the musicians will discuss their participation in GMA’s Warm Coats & Warm Hearts coat drive.

The students have taken on this annual service project as their way of thanking the people of Trumbull for their generous support of the band throughout the year. This year’s collection will benefit the Bridgeport Rescue Mission. Donations of gently used coats, hats, scarves, and gloves may be made at various locations around Trumbull, including Town Hall, the main library, Stop and Shop, Porricelli’s, and various churches. The deadline for donations is at noon on Wednesday, November 25.

WTNH and the Trumbull Times have already provided media coverage of the bands upcoming trip to the GMA studios. Set your DVR for Monday morning! Watch, as once again the members of THSGEMB make us proud, just like they have all season long! GO EAGLES!

The Trumbull High School Golden Eagle Marching Band ended its season on a high note with its strongest performance of the year at the Musical Arts Conference (MAC) Class V championships held at Central High School’s Kennedy Stadium on November 14.
Although the band’s score of 97.3 points fell just short of Norwalk High School’s overall winning score, the Golden Eagles won the categories of Best Color Guard, Best Percussion, and tied for Best General Effect. This is the fifth consecutive year that Trumbull’s percussion section won this honor, and the fourth consecutive award for the color guard. The outstanding performance by Trumbull’s color guard on Saturday night earned a perfect score from the MAC judges, the first perfect score awarded at such a competition in recent memory.
The band’s 2009 show, titled “Replay”, is a collection of its signature pieces from the past 12 years, including music by Debussy, Bernstein, and Holst.
After taking a few days to savor its accomplishment, the band will gear up again for an appearance in the UBS Parade Spectacular in Stamford this Sunday, November 22. The Golden Eagles’ nationally ranked winter color guard and percussion programs are also set to begin practicing for their new season this week.
The Musical Arts Conference is made up of high school bands from Connecticut, New Jersey and New York competing in five levels. The THSGEMB, in the highest class of competition, is a Class V marching band with over 104 musicians, 29 color guard and two drum majors. The band director is Peter Horton and assistant directors are Thomas Whitmoyer and Carman T. Dragone. The color guard is under the direction of Raymond Rhodes.

Last night, I had my final performance at Norwalk High School, and it was absolutely amazing. The Norwalk show is always intense, but this year, it was more intense than ever. Our band marched onto the field and truly performed our hearts out. I felt the emotion everyone had put into their music. I even got teary-eyed during the ballad! As the band marched off the field after the performance, I was filled with pride for myself and the band. After returning and watching Norwalk’s exhibition from the side of the field, I and the rest of the Trumbull seniors got another chance to have our names called in recognition of our years of dedication. I am so grateful to have been given that opportunity again. It saddens me that I have only one show left in my fall band career. It has all gone by so fast. When I’m in college next year and I come visit, it just won’t be the same. I will miss performing with this band so much.
I’m looking forward to an excellent week of practice, as well as a phenomenal Championship show next week!
Emma, Class of 2010

In what they hope will become an annual tradition, the students of the Trumbull High School Golden Eagle Marching Band are collaborating once again with ABC’s Good Morning America (GMA) to collect new and gently used coats for donation to local charities.

The coat drive is part of GMA’s national campaign and will benefit local organizations such as the Bridgeport Rescue Mission. In addition to coats, new and gently used hats, gloves, mittens and scarves will also be accepted.

Donations can be made at various drop-off locations around Trumbull, including Town Hall, the main library, Stop and Shop, Porricelli’s, and various churches. Most Trumbull public schools will also be accepting donations and flyers will be sent home with students. The deadline for donations is at noon on Wednesday, November 25.

Last December, the band presented nearly 3,500 coats during a live broadcast of Good Morning America from Town Hall. The students have welcomed the opportunity to take on this service project as their way of thanking the people of Trumbull for their generous support of the band throughout the year. The Golden Eagles ask for everyone’s help again this year as they seek to spread the warmth this holiday season.

More information on the GMA coat drive may be found at http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/WarmCoats/. Information about the THS Golden Eagle Marching Band may be found at their website, http://www.thsgembcorp.com.