Franklin Regional marching band tickles the ivories for 2019 halftime show
Roll over, Beethoven — the Franklin Regional Panther Marching Band has a few new piano pieces for you.
That is the theme behind the band’s 2019 marching show.
“’Roll Over Beethoven’ is the theme, and it’s all based on piano-centered pieces,” said senior Lane Kline, one of the drum majors. “We’re doing Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony, ‘It Don’t Mean a Thing If It Ain’t Got That Swing,’ ‘Hit the Road Jack,’ ‘Your Song’ by Elton John and Chuck Berry’s ‘Roll Over Beethoven.’”
The band also will perform Berry’s classic rock-and-roll tune in New York City’s Herald Square when they return to the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade for the first time since 2009.
“We’re lucky enough to have the talent and the staff to do it,” said senior and trombone player Marshall Mao.
“Lucky” might be a strange way to describe the 3 a.m. Herald Square rehearsal the band will undertake prior to the November parade. Not for assistant trumpet section leader Courtney Sheridan, though.
“Even though it’s so early, the atmosphere of performing in that parade is going to be so exciting,” Sheridan said. “Marshall and I (marched with the band in the Rose Bowl parade in) Pasadena, so we’re kind of familiar with what that’s like, but none of us have been to (the) Macy’s (parade). It’s a small space to do such a big, fast-paced production.”
That small space will have to accommodate a larger group of Franklin Regional Silks this year.
“We have a lot of new girls and a bigger squad than last year,” said senior and Silks captain Brooke Leopold. “That’s also a big challenge: teaching everyone the moves and keeping everyone together.”
It will also have to accommodate a baby grand piano that will be illuminated from the inside. The piano will be part of the halftime show, and will also roll alongside the band at the Macy’s parade.
Freshman trumpet player James Swift is taking in the entire experience during his first year in the marching band.
“To see everyone come together is really cool,” Swift said.
The band’s first halftime performance will be Aug. 23, when the Panthers football team travels to Bethel Park. Its first home performance will be Sept. 6 at home against Greater Latrobe.
For more, see FRband.com.
Patrick Varine is a TribLive reporter covering Delmont, Export and Murrysville. He is a Western Pennsylvania native and joined the Trib in 2010 after working as a reporter and editor with the former Dover Post Co. in Delaware. He can be reached at pvarine@triblive.com.
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