VIDEO: Marching Band wins regional honors; on to states and nationals
The Passaic Marching Band recently won their latest regional competition, held Oct. 2 at MetLife Stadium. With the hard work of the band director, Mr. Christopher Rusca, and his students, the band was able to obtain the title despite not having played together for nearly two years due to Covid.
Mr. Rusca has directed the Passaic Marching Band for 20 years, in which time they have won four regional championships, four state championships and one national championship.
Mr. Rusca took the time to talk about the experience, emphasizing that all instruments are equally important when competing.
“You want to have a good balance, so for instance flutes, clarinets, saxophones, the woodwind instruments, and we have the brass, also the trumpets, and the low brass,” he said. “We always want more low brass. It seems like young kids tend to play the lighter instruments, so the brass is usually a little heavier and needs more air. No other instrument is more important than the other; you just want a nice balance.”
The award-winning Marching Band includes students in grades 6-12 from all over the Passaic Public School District, including the three high schools, Etta Gero School No. 9, School No. 11 and the School No. 8 Annex.
Nelsie Abreu, a sophomore saxophone player from Passaic Prep, told The Boulevard Online: “Doing all this hard work means a lot. It just shows us that now every other competition we have, we need to add more hard work each day.”
The band’s next competition will be Saturday, Oct. 30 in the state championships and then Saturday, Nov. 6 at the national championships at MetLife Stadium.
PREP STUDENTS IN MARCHING BAND:
Saul Carrillo
Angel Mejia
Ofelia Osorio
Lucas Tellez
Nashly Moya
Stephany Negrete
Jaqueline Aca
Sean Pastor
Jancel Taveras
Magaly Tepox
Jasmin Bravo
Jocelyn Aca
Eduardo Cano
Agustin Perez
Nelsie Abreu
Marilyn Perez
Yamilet Martinez
Kelsey Esteban
Ariakna Miranda
Adlyn Correa
Johanna Hicks
Citlali Ariza
Katherine Vasquez
PHS:
Tahon Giles
Aldhair Galvan
Denise Lopez
Alondra Romero
Danielle Collado
Jackie Hernandez
Angela Gibson
Litzi Gomez
Victoria Flores
Jacob Mendoza
Alexander Castillo
Kevin Martinez
Kevin Arriaga
Xavier Muhammad
Dulce Tomay
Crystal Reyes
PASE:
Lizbeth Cano
Jade Martinez
Brayam Moran
Andrik Lucero
Evell Williams
Santiago Avellaneda
Jose Perez
Steven Ortiz
Alicia Julmisse
Ashanti Julmisse
Jocelyn Cabajal
Daniela Cabajal
Carmen Cruz
Roxanna Lopez
Keriza Godines
Destiny Julmisse
Alex Julmisse
SCHOOL 11:
Khalil Muhammad
SCHOOL 8 ANNEX:
Maria Pena
SCHOOL 9:
Matty Arriaga