Spend a few minutes with the Lake Placid High School marching band and it doesn’t take long to see what Band Director John Panella is building. Yes, he may want the band to sound better. Yes, he may want the marching more precise. But watch a rehearsal for a while and you realize he’s building something much bigger than a halftime show. He’s building a team. That became clear during band camp.
When students were asked what they enjoyed most, they didn’t talk about learning new music or preparing for competition. They talked about getting to know one another and learning how to work together. When asked what they wanted the community to know about the band, one answer couldn’t have been simpler: “We’re a group of good kids.”
After spending time with them, it’s hard to argue.
These students are putting in long hours during the summer, learning music, memorizing drill and working through the frustrations that come with trying to make dozens of individuals perform as one. Every rehearsal is built on trust. Every marcher has a responsibility. Every section depends on another section. Musicians rely on percussion. Percussion relies on the drum major. The color guard, under the direction of Kenzie Thornhill, is just as much a part of the performance as the musicians, adding movement, precision and energy that bring each show to life.
Panella isn’t doing it alone. Volunteer Tom Fegers is beside him throughout the process, helping teach, encourage and shape a young group of students that continues to grow. The students have embraced that challenge. Their leaders have set a goal of earning a Superior rating this year, and every rehearsal is another step toward it. They know success won’t come from one talented musician or one outstanding section. It will come from everyone improving together.
That same teamwork extends beyond the practice field.
The band works to raise much of the money needed to support the program. Transportation remains its largest expense, with away games and competitions requiring a driver at $30 per hour plus $2 per mile. Uniforms and equipment are being updated as funding allows, little by little. Community support has made a difference. Thanks to Carl Canaveri and the One Dragon Club, transportation expenses for away football games were covered last year, allowing the students to travel with the team and represent Lake Placid on the road.
Panella would also like to see the band continue growing. With nearly 500 students at Lake Placid High School, a band of 70 members would mean about one in every 10 students choosing to be part of the program. That kind of growth doesn’t happen because of uniforms or trophies. It happens because students invite friends. They encourage one another. They find a place where they belong.
In the end, the most memorable part of band camp wasn’t a perfectly played song or a flawless formation. It was one student’s description of the people standing beside them.
“We’re a group of good kids.”
Sometimes, the students tell the story better than anyone else.
This year’s Sound of the Dragon Band Leaders:
How to Help the Band:
Sponsors are always welcome.
