The Alternative Press

The Madison Marching Dodgers have qualified for the Tournament of Bands Atlantic Coast Championships in Hershey PA on Sunday, October 28.  The Marching Dodgers took second place at ACCs in the 2-A Class for the last 2 years, but recently took a huge leap up to Open Class from A class.  Despite now competing with much more established bands, they once again have the honor of competing in the Atlantic Coast Championships. They are currently ranked 16^th and will be performing at 2:58pm in Hershey on Sunday.

This is the Marching Dodgers' third year in competition, under the leadership of Director of Bands Russell Batsch. Previously, Madison High School had not had a marching band since 1995. “It’s like moving from JV to Varsity, or from minor to major leagues,” said Batsch recently, of the move to 2-Open Class.

The band currently boasts 44 instrumentalists, 11 color guard members,  and a pit crew of parents. They compete almost every weekend, and their show can also be seen at half-time during varsity football home games. The Marching Dodger’s exciting 2012 show is in three movements, beginning with Civilizations: Mayan prophecy, followed by the ballad Requiem for a Dying Planet, and concluding more hopefully with Building the Future.

“I thought it was the best I’d ever seen them perform the show—all the parents think that the band is performing at their highest level ever and in a good position for this challenge,” said Helen Raymaker, band parent and president of the Madison Music Association after Sunday’s Championships at West Essex.  In fact, the Marching Dodgers received their highest score so far in Open Class competition on Sunday, an 88.