Color guard is a team of people who do choreographed dances with very heavy and intriguing equipment; these kids are trained and put to the task of giving their very best during these performances. Devoting 6:30 pm to 9:30pm to practices twice a week, they really do an outstanding job of showing their talents and what hard work gets you.
The Color Guard/ Marching Band director, Mr. Daniel Fabbio shares what he enjoys most about directing the students.
“Because of my position, I get to see them in different settings. They can be shy in school settings but very outgoing and color guard or even band,” Mr. Fabbio says.
Mr. Fabbio also shared about some of the difficult aspects of being a color guard director, saying, “You have students in the fall who are very young, like 11 years old and then the seniors who are way older, it’s [a challenge] managing that age gap”
Fans enjoy the beautiful performances presented by the color guard during halftime shows during the high school’s football season. The performers not only enjoy themselves, but also they are excited to show everyone the hard work they’ve put into their special performances.
Color guard members also participate in winter guard– the sport is year-round with different categories in the spring and winter seasons. Practices are usually two times a week, with a three hour time span in practice– these kids work to put together their talents. Each season the team has their own themes that they’ve come up with. This season’s Varsity show tells the story of “Lizzie Borden,” a woman who was executed after murdering her father and stepmother.
Parents of the kids in color guard also play a very important and big part in having things put together. A helping hand from others is always needed. Mr. Bisaccia, our well known and adored teacher here in the senior high school is not only a guard parent, but he’s also a prop manager.
“New Hartford’s last Marching Band show was called Look Up and in my opinion is one of my favorites” says NH Social Studies teacher and band parent, Mr. Bisaccia. “The music and movements of the students were amazing and the ending was so exciting. I am so impressed with each show and the fact that from year to year the number of students joining the Marching Band Programs continues to grow. It truly is a wonderful experience to be a part of for both students and parents.”
Aside from their passion for color guard, these girls have built a very strong bond with one another. After all, what is a team without a strong structure?
“We have become like family to each other and are always for one another during the rough times,” says Eslarny Espinal, an 8th grader who has performed with the guard for two years.
The students in guard shared their thoughts and described their most memorable moments to further explain the bonds created in guard.
“A very memorable moment during guard was always seeing Mariah standing in front of the doors of Perry,” said Peyton Mikalunas, commenting on a recent death of a color guard instructor.
“We lost a person everyone loves and who I personally looked up to- we were all there for each other and made sure we were all okay,” said Eslarny Espinal.
Photo Submitted by Eslarny Espinal
