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Tabernacle, NJ -The Seneca Marching Band began their season on a high note, taking 1st place in their competition at Bordentown High School on September 18th.
“An early season win is always a great way to start the year,” noted Seneca Marching Band Director Grady Barber. “We didn’t know what to expect going in, especially considering the universal toll COVID has had on every music program – locally and globally. It was great to be able to not only perform, but also support other programs who have put themselves in a position to grow through these changes,” he explained.
The win is due in part to the team’s preparation.
Their “summer session” began in July, with weekly practices. “During the summer sessions, our focus is on fundamentals, both musically and visually,” explained Barber. “Students aim to gain basic understanding of these music and visual elements before our summer band camp. Our summer camp is a two-week period where students and staff work together to make sure our show is “competition ready.”
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Barber also attributes their success to a foundation built during the previous school year via virtual competitions. “I give a lot of credit to our administrative staff for giving us the green lights we needed to compete in virtual competitions last year, allowing us to maintain our course of development into this year,” he acknowledged.
The Golden Eagles are both excited and determined as they look to the remainder of the season. “Our goal for the season is the same as our goal for each week, each practice, each hour, etc… and that is to go out there and be the best version of ourselves,” explained Barber. “There is nothing we want more for our students than to march off the field at state championships knowing we left it all out there,” Barber added. “The positive results are icing on the cake, but our students find joy in the process of working together, and that, to me, is what this should be about!”
About LRHSD
The Lenape Regional High School District’s four high schools – Lenape, Shawnee, Cherokee, and Seneca – as well as the Sequoia Alternative Program, educate approximately 6,850 students from eight communities in Burlington County.
The communities served include Evesham, Medford, Medford Lakes, Mount Laurel, Shamong, Southampton, Tabernacle, and Woodland.
The Lenape Regional District is among the highest-achieving districts in the state, with an average graduation rate of 98% and an average combined SAT score of 1139.
A leader in progressive education, the LRHSD’s mission is to develop physically and emotionally healthy students who excel in an ever-changing world.