Garden City Public Schools

Garden City High School’s Marching Band, the Marching Trojans, finished a strong fall season with standout performances at both state and national competitions. Throughout the season, the Marching Trojans consistently placed second in local and state competitions, receiving recognition in every caption category.

On the weekend of Nov. 1, the Marching Trojans competed at the New York State Championships in Lindenhurst, delivering a spectacular show that earned an overall score of 87.7. The band received awards for Best Visuals, Best Percussion and Best Color guard, and earned second place overall. The percussion section received the highest score of the entire competition, surpassing bands larger in size and higher in overall ranking.

“Receiving Best Percussion at this competition is a remarkable feat that we have never achieved before,” said Dan Dellamonica, band director. “I am incredibly proud of our students for their dedication and precision.”

On Nov. 8, the Marching Trojans traveled to Allentown, Pennsylvania, to compete in the National Championship at the renowned J. Birney Crum Stadium. After a night of team bonding, the students rose early to prepare, spending an hour and a half warming up and fine-tuning their performance. Despite brisk temperatures, the band delivered the strongest performance of the season, earning sixth place in their class with an overall score of 89.8 and the award for Best Music.

For the first time in the history of the National Championship, the Garden City Marching Band earned a caption award, taking home Best Music. Out of 17 competing bands, the Marching Trojans were recognized for their outstanding musical performance, marking a historic milestone for the program.

“Congratulations to the Garden City Marching Band on an extraordinary season,” said Akira Regan, Garden City’s director of music and the arts. “Their talent, dedication and teamwork have been exceptional, and this season’s accomplishments reflect their hard work and commitment.”