Malverne marching band claims state victory

The Pride of Malverne Marching Band, which claimed a second consecutive first-place victory in a statewide competition this weekend, is building a high school dynasty one coordinated step at a time.

The marching band, composed of 95 students from freshmen to seniors, defeated six other schools Sunday at the New York State Field Band Championships. The band won its third state title despite competing in a tougher division this year. The victory in the Small School Division 2 came at the competition in the Carrier Dome at Syracuse University, where 51 schools from throughout the state and from northwestern Pennsylvania and New Jersey competed.

"It was like the greatest feeling in the world," said Christian Algarra, 17, a senior who plays baritone sax.

Sigourney Hessic, 14, a sophomore who plays the flute, said band members screamed and cried Sunday. "It felt so good to have all your hard work pay off."

The marching band has competed at the state level since 2003. It has been so successful -- winning all local competitions the past two years -- that a trophy case was built to hold its awards, which include three silver cups marking first-place state victories in 2006, 2010 and Sunday.

"We see the marching band as a calling card of the district," said Michael Messina, the district's chair of music. Open to all, the marching band has the most participants of any sport or club at the high school.

Judged half on music and half on visuals and under the direction of band director Erin Lynch and assistant director Glen Johnson, the competition field show was called "Rhythms, Layers and Echoes." Sunday, Malverne earned a top score of 83.5, just ahead of the Phoenix district, with a score of 82.8.

Lynch credited the band's determination and attention to the smallest detail, such as leaning in the same direction or stepping off with the same foot.

"They were very impressive," said Craig Elwood, championship show coordinator. "I was like, 'Whoa, they moved up a whole class [from three to two] and now they are at the top of the new class.' "

No other Long Island school placed first this year, though the Huntington High School band placed fourth out of 12 teams in its division. When funding was cut there, the high school's Marching Band Parents Association raised about $28,000 to supplement the cuts, school officials said.

Malverne students agreed that schools should preserve music. No such cuts have been proposed for Malverne's band, though smaller trims have been made to some music programs.

"A lot of kids like it . . . and it's really important to them," said Romina Pardo-Cardenas, 15, a sophomore who plays clarinet.