For years, the Posnack School marching band has been a pillar of the Posnack School community. From marching through the halls with senior classes for the annual senior walk to performing on world-class stages, the marching band has emerged as a prominent group. One factor in their success is their endurance, drive and wondrous performances. This year, they traveled and practiced alongside the pom squad (Posnack School’s cheerleading club) to perform at Busch Gardens in Tampa.
The Students Diligently Prepare
The advent of the Busch Gardens trip prompted the marching band and pom squad to spend the entire year preparing. The students hustled and worked to learn the music and choreography in order to prepare for the big day. Rehearsal was held both during school and after school each week. Students in the band were also able to practice during their elective classes at the middle and high schools, where they focused on their instruments and learned music. These classes give them time within their busy class schedules to improve their skills and prepare for performances. Ezra Goldman, quad drums section leader, said, “Being in the drumline class every day really helped me improve my drumming skills, and it was nice to have time to learn all of the music.” Ezra also wrote one of the band’s songs, “EG.”
Show Time
During the performance, the band played several songs, including well-known pieces like “Paint It Black” by The Rolling Stones and the Jewish song “Shalom Alechem.” Playing Jewish music is an important way for students to show their pride in their identity. At a time when Jews around the world are facing oppression, performing songs like “Shalom Alechem” is a meaningful way to show that the Jewish spirit remains strong. In addition to the marching band’s role, the pom squad played an integral role in the performance. They worked throughout the year, learning choreography that corresponded to the band’s harmony and added energy to the show. Ella Hack, POMs captain, said, “POMs was an amazing opportunity to showcase our Posnack pride as the first Jewish day school to perform at Disney and Universal.”
Performances Are Second Nature for the Band
Busch Gardens is no intimidation to this marching band and pom squad, who have performed at major theme parks before. In past years, they traveled to both Disney and Universal. Here, their performances went viral online, showcasing their ability to handle performances with ease and confidence. The opportunities given to these student-run organizations serve as a reminder to students to stop and think about how lucky they are to have unique experiences with their closest friends.
The Show Goes On
The trip to Busch Gardens was just one more exciting moment for the Posnack marching band and pom squad. After months of practice, the students were able to share their music, dancing, and school pride with a larger audience beyond the Rams back home. Their performance showed the hard work that it takes to fuel the program and the strong spirit of the Posnack community. This trip was the continuation of a legacy that will last the marching band years to come as the program continues to flourish.
