Left Hand Valley Courier - All Local, All The Time

Sporting a collection of tunes from the popular movie The Greatest Showman, the Niwot High School band was a force to be reckoned with at SVVSD band night. The band provided a wall of sound as a result of its abundance of members and energetic performance. SVVSD band night is an event where marching bands from across the district gather to perform in front of judges. This year, the high schools attending included Lyons, Skyline, Erie, Roosevelt, Greeley Central, Frederick, Silver Creek, Niwot, Mead, Mountain View, and Longmont High School. Needless to say, the judges and audience were provided with a plethora of music.

SVVSD Band Night was particularly special for Niwot because the announcer, Joe Bartko, was a Niwot High alumni. There, he participated in the concert, marching, and jazz band, which fostered a love for music in him. Since then, Bartko has become a very popular announcer, particularly for musical events. This shows how a good musical experience can impact a person for the rest of their lives.

Also, while bands from other schools played popular music like the Avengers theme song, Niwot played music that reflected the values that the faculty at Niwot strive to teach their students. The Greatest Showman is about accepting everyone no matter how different they might be, and about being proud to be who you are.

Carly Toothaker, a talented percussionist at Niwot High School, says, "I really like the songs we're playing because everyone knows them and understands the meaning from the movie." Since the band members enjoy the music just as much, if not more, than the audience, the quality of their music improves as a result of the passion each student feels. This, in turn, engages the audience and creates an atmosphere filled with anticipation and excitement.

As November and the end of football season draws nearer, the Niwot marching band prepares for its last few performances. The band will continue to play at each home football game, with a performance at half time and pep tunes during the game. Members encourage you to come to a game and support both Niwot's football team and the band program!