ON A HIGH NOTE
Westhill High marching band on the rise after years of decline
STAMFORD — The Westhill High School Marching Band was on a roll this season.
The team took first in the USBands New England State Championships in late October, and then went on to win the USBands National Championships for class 3A in Allentown, Penn., on Nov. 3.
“I would say this year was competitively the most successful season we’ve had, which was truly astonishing because 45 percent of our team was rookies and had never done marching band before,” said Michael Wyatt, instrumental music director and coach of the Westhill Marching Band.
Ever since Wyatt arrived at the school in 2012, the band has grown from 52 members to 65 this year, thanks in part to his emphasis on fostering the program from the middle school level.
“When I got here I put a lot of emphasis on recruiting. I would spend a good portion of my time going to
the middle schools to talk to eighthgraders and help out with their band classes wherever needed,” Wyatt said.
Wyatt also allowed 11 middle school students to join the high school band this season.
“He’s a fantastic director. He’s really made strides. This band has been improving year over year,” said Eric Morson, who represents District 13 on the Stamford Board of Representatives and played trumpet in the Stamford High School marching band in the 1980s. Morson’s daughter is now a freshman in the Westhill band.
In his day, Stamford High’s marching band had over 100 members and competed widely, but today the Stamford High Marching Band no longer participates in competitions, although it does perform at football games.
The city’s marching bands shrunk since the 1980s, but those closest to the action, at least at Westhill, say a resurgence is underway.
“I’ve seen the Westhill Marching Band for a long time because my brother was in it and I think there was always this idea that the band isn’t that good and they don’t do well. On the outside, a lot of people might think that, but when you’re in the band and rehearsing all the time you realize we’re not bad. We’re good, and working to get better and better,” said Helena Dougherty, a junior at Westhill and the band’s drum major and band leader.
“It’s kind of funny because a lot of people don’t know what we do or how much work we put into everything,” said Melanie Sandoval, a fellow Westhill junior and woodwinds captain on the marching band.
Despite its growth, money remains a challenge for the Westhill band.
“Going to these competition sandal loft he other things we do takes a massive fundraising effort from our band parents association,” Wyatt said. “It’s challenging to keep our program at its current level and in fact to keep elevating our program because the larger we get the more buses we need.”
Each student in the band has to contribute dues of about $300, Morson said.
Some of this is offset by fundraising from the parent association, including a Krispy Kreme donut sale, trivia night at a local bar and a live auction, among other events, according to the association’s treasurer, Cat Alessio.
“Honestly the program could not be run if it weren’t for the parent volunteers and board members,” Alessio said. “I feel like we’re constantly doing something. Other than the director, it takes a lot of parent volunteers to help keep it running and on track.”
Despite the obstacles, students Dougherty and Sandoval have big dreams for the Westhill band, including reaching a 100person membership.
“I want the energy around the band to be taken more seriously,” Sandoval said. “We do have good energy, but it can definitely grow. A lot of things can grow.”