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HTSD to host Allegheny Valley Band Festival on Sept. 10

HTSD to host Allegheny Valley Band Festival on Sept. 10
Zachary D'Amico

Hampton Township School District is proud to host this year’s Allegheny Valley Marching Band Festival on Saturday, Sept. 10 at 7 p.m. at Fridley Field.  

Tickets are $8 for adults and $5 for students and senior citizens.

Parking is available at Hampton High School and Hampton Community Center, with two free shuttles to Fridley Field. Parking access is from McCully Road.

HTSD is thrilled to host the following local high school marching bands: Avonworth, Hampton, North Allegheny, North Hills, Northgate, Pine Richland, Riverview, and Shaler Area.

“I'm looking forward to hearing and seeing the many great bands in the northern suburbs of Pittsburgh,” said HHS Band Director Chad Himmler. “I'm also looking forward to all bands being able to perform in front of a large and quiet audience where it's easier to hear and appreciate the smaller details of the students' performances.”

The Hampton High School Marching Band is adding a twist to a traditional prom night for its 2022 show – one that might have you feeling like it’s Halloween night.

Himmler says this year’s halftime show, “Senior Prom: A Night to Dismember,” was designed to be “super fun, engaging, relatable, and effective in a very unique way.”

“We are following the storyline of a traditional Prom night but coming to Prom as zombies — waking up from the dead and arriving at Prom, dinner, dancing, crowning the King & Queen, and then celebration, chaos, and riot,” he said.

Music featured in the show includes:

  • The main theme from “Beetlejuice” by Danny Elfman
  • "Danse Macabre" by Camille Saint-Saens
  • "Heads Will Roll" by Yeah, Yeah, Yeahs
  • "A Thousand Years" by Christina Perri
  • "The rock classic "Ballroom Blitz" by Sweet

Himmler says he likes many components about this year’s showing – including trying more new ideas and pushing the traditional marching band boundaries.

“For instance, while we need to wear our normal school uniforms at football games, we are going to abandon those for competitions and wear costumes that will help the students all look like zombies,” he said.

There are many unique elements to this year’s show, from electronics to dancing. In particular, Mr. Himmler says the ballad by Christina Perri is “absolutely beautiful” when the King and Queen are crowned.

Come and support the Hampton High School Marching band at the Allegheny Valley Marching Band Festival on September 10 and throughout the football season!

Following the Allegheny Valley Marching Band Festival, the band will compete in the following Pennsylvania Interscholastic Marching Band Association (PIMBA) competitions:  Sept. 17 at Baldwin, Oct. 8 at Deer Lakes, and then PIMBA Championships on October 22 at Norwin.