Tournament of Bands

The l Marching Dodgers will host and compete against top area marching bands on Sunday, October 7 at 1 pm at the high school at 170 Ridgedale Ave.

The bands, which range in size from Group I to Group IV, are competing for a chance to get to the Atlantic Coast Championships, where the Dodgers took second place in the 2-A Class for the last 2 years?

This is the Marching Dodgers' third year in competition, under the leadership of Director of Bands Russell Batsch. Previously, Madison High School had not had a marching band since 1995.

The band currently boasts 44 instrumentalists, 11 color guard members, an honor guard and a pit crew of parents. They compete almost every weekend, and their show can also be seen at half-time during varsity football home games. The Marching Dodger’s exciting 2012 show is in three movements, beginning with Civilizations: Mayan prophecy, followed by the ballad Requiem for a Dying Planet, and concluding more hopefully with Building the Future.

The Tournament of Bands will start at 1 p.m. and incudes food and souvenirs as well as fantastic shows. The public is invited to attend for $10 admission at the gate.

“Our home show is not just important for placement, but for the town of Madison as well,” said director Russ Batsch, “We hope they will turn out and cheer us on!”

The Marching Dodgers are supported by the Marching Dodger Booster Club, an official 501(c)3 nonprofit charity that welcomes donations and has helped to fund improvements for the band’s 2011 season of shows and competitions, including additions to uniforms, colorful new flags, instruments, safety equipment, music and music computer programs, along with the maintenance of equipment, repairs of instruments, and transportation expenses. To support the band, donations may be made to: The Marching Dodgers Booster Club (MDBC), P.O. Box 34, Madison, N.J. 07940.  For more information call 201-274-4617.