Taking the next step in their groove
Marching band ready for new season under fresh leadership
BY JENNIFER KOHLHEPP Staff Writer
Man, it was a hot one. Allentown felt like 7 inches from the midday sun, but the marching band was staying cool.

ERIC SUCAR staff Allentown High School's Redbird Marching Band runs through a new routine on the high school's football field during band camp Aug. 30.

The Allentown High School's Redbird Marching Band members could have lifted a description of their experience at band camp from Carlos Santana's "Smooth" lyrics. So, it's apropos that the band is learning to play that song and a few others from the American Latin artist's repertoire - famous for a blend of salsa, rock, blues and jazz fusion - for its upcoming season.

"Black Magic Woman/Gypsy Queen" and "Oye Como Va" will also make up the band's half-time show and competition performance during the 2008-09 school year.

Marching Band President Brendan Benedict, who plays the trumpet, said that the Santana field show will definitely be a crowd-pleaser.

"The music is laid back and cool, but [it] sounds excellent," he said.

"Laid back" and "cool" were also some of the words band members used to describe their new leader, Jeff Santoro, of South Brunswick.

PHOTOS BY ERIC SUCAR staff Freshman Ted Sexton (above) holds the line in one of the formations, and senior Brendan Benedict (bottom photo) stands out among the crowd, during Allentown High School's Redbird Marching Band practice at the high school football field Aug. 30.

The third director the band has had in the past three consecutive years, Santoro said he's bringing a new philosophy and outlook to teaching the after-school program.

"My philosophy is that the educational side of the job comes first," he said. "If you teach music, you make better musicians. If you teach the applications for music, the marching band does well at competitions and gives good performances."

Santoro replaced Randal Kratofil, who joined Allentown High School as a music teacher and replaced former marching band director Peter Mauro in February 2006. Kratofil left the position to pursue other interests, mainly a doctoral degree in music.

Under Mauro's direction, the marching band won numerous parades and competitions, including the United States Scholastic Band Association (USSBA) championships. He also led the band in the 2006 New Year's Day Parade in London, at the White House in Washington, D.C., at Hershey Park in Hershey, Pa., and at Epcot Center in Orlando, Fla.

Whereas Kratofil acknowledged the band's tradition of competitive excellence and said he expected to take the kids to the next level, Santoro's focus is more of building a new program up from scratch in a more relaxed and fun atmosphere.

"I'm just getting to know the kids," Santoro said. "They've been a great help to a new teacher in a transitioning program, which could have been a pain but has been nothing but smooth."

Benedict said the new band director is a breath of fresh air and will move the band in a new direction.

"His teaching approaches differ from those of his predecessors in that he encourages us to have fun while rehearsing, and this new technique has actually brought the group farther during band camp than ever before," Benedict said.

As a senior member of the band, Benedict witnessed how the change in directors affected the band over the last few years. The changes "lessened the band's trust and morale," he said, "but could not shake our musical talents."

"Although the band might not always finish first, we always perform to the best of our ability, and that ability is always increasing," he said.

Marching Band Vice President Jackie Feibus, a junior who plays the mellophone, said the change in leadership has not drastically affected the band's ability to perform.

"I can tell that the people who have stuck it out through everything are the ones who are really dedicated," she said.

Feibus said she "really, really likes Mr. Santoro."

"He helps us with everything at an educational standpoint but also has a good sense of humor, which I think makes a lot of students respect him," she said. "I actually enjoy the band more this year than I ever have in the past. Mr. Santoro makes practice fun and laid back but also challenging, so I'm never bored."

A 2001 graduate of Rutgers University, New Brunswick, where he earned a degree in music education, Santoro taught music and band in Wayne, Madison and Mountain Lakes middle and high schools before taking the instrumental music teacher position at Allentown High School in July.

"I always had assistant positions," Santoro said. "This is my first chance to take a program over and to be the man in charge."

During the school day, Santoro will teach symphonic band and music theory lessons. The school also has a jazz band, which is an after-school winter activity that Santoro will direct.

This year, the marching band is a 50- member group, with percussion, woodwind, brass and visual sections including a color guard and dancers. Santoro will lead the marching band with the help of two color guard instructors, his wife, Colleen Santoro, and John Vega, as well as three assistant directors, Dave Gelch, Butch Anderson and Frank Shay.

Shay, who is beginning his seventh year with the band, said, "This definitely has been a relaxed and fun season so far. Jeff is a lot of fun to work with."

Despite all the changes the marching band program has gone through over the past few years, Shay said that one thing remains the same.

"The kids have not changed in respect to wanting to be here," he said. "They all want to be here."

Shay said he's looking forward to the band having a good year.

"I'm just looking forward to the kids having fun," he said.

Benedict said he's looking forward to hearing the band reach new heights in music.

"But above all else, I will value the new fun and friendships that this year will bring," he said.

Feibus said she's looking forward to the band showing everybody that it's going to be better than ever this year despite what it has gone through.

"We have accomplished more at this point in the season than we ever have before," she said.

The Redbirds have a packed performance schedule ahead of them. In addition to playing at home and away football games and in local parades and community events, the band will enter four competitions this year.

During band camp, which took place from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Aug. 27-31, it was all sweat and hard work to learn the eightminute Santana routine that the marching band will play at all events throughout the season. Despite all the hard work, members see the marching band as Santana puts it in his song "Smooth" - it's their "reason for reason" and "the step in their groove."

So, "oye como va" at the band's first public performance Sept. 8 at Hamilton High School West or wait to see the Redbirds in their nest at the first home game on Sept. 14.

For more information about the band, including fundraisers and performances, visit www.Allentownredbirdband.org.