Warrior Band Selected to Perform at National Band Championship

Female Trumpet player on the football field playing

Posted by: Elizabeth Richardson on September 17, 2019, No Comments

USBands, one of the two major national band circuits in the country, has selected East Stroudsburg University’s Warrior Band to be the Exhibition Performers for the USBands Class A National Championship to be held Saturday, November 2 at J. Birney Crum Stadium in Allentown, Pa.

“This is one of the biggest events in the history of the ESU Band program,” said Brian Hodge, director of Warrior Bands. “We will be performing for some of the best bands in the eastern states as the capstone performance of the evening.”

USBands, the largest competitive circuit in the nation, supports the development of scholastic performing ensembles through exceptional service, adjudication and venues. More than 30 high schools will be performing at the event to be held in the 15,000-seat stadium.

At the championship, the Warrior Band will present its new show, “Music from the Age of Neon,” which features classic rhythm and blues and pop songs from the late 1980s and early 1990s.

“This year’s show includes something we’ve never done before, a suite of electronic sounds,” Hodge said. The Warriorettes, the band’s dance team, will join the band and color guard on the field for the first time as part of the show.

Rashiek High, a senior from Philadelphia, Pa. who is majoring in musical theatre, will the featured vocalist and master of ceremonies for the presentation.

USBands saw the Warrior Band give exhibition performances last year at two area completions, Bangor and Boyertown. “At those events, I expressed interest in performing at the national competition,” Hodge said, “and I am surprised and honored that we were selected for this year’s event. It is a wonderful showcase for the Warrior Band.”