High school percussion ensemble wins Atlantic Coast title

The township high school’s indoor percussion ensemble secured the Tournament Indoor Association’s (TIA) Atlantic Coast Championship on May 3 in Wildwood.

The ensemble and the school’s color guard began competition late last month at the Wildwood Convention Center against schools from across the Mid-Atlantic region, including New York, Virginia, West Virginia, Delaware and Maryland. They were among 209 competing units, according to the Tournament of Bands, which runs the competition.

The win for indoor percussion capped off an undefeated season for the Braves that began in November.

“They practiced twice a week from November to April,” said its director, Val Kuntz. “I felt that they had their best performance of the season at the finals. There was all sorts of crying and hugging since it was such a special moment.”

That “moment” was special for Kuntz since there was no ensemble at all three years ago, nor in 2024.

“It really is remarkable what they’ve been able to do in a short amount of time,” he explained. “It’s great to see given how things were a few years back.”

While the color guard didn’t win its respective championship, Kuntz and the school district still had praise for it. The group ended up placing seventh, and the township gave members a hero’s welcome as the Monroe Township Police Department, Williamstown Fire Department and Cecil Fire Company escorted them back to the high school.

“That was thanks to our athletic director, Irv McFarland,” Kuntz noted. “He was the one who reached out to them. It’s not every day that the band gets a police escort back home.”

While competitions are over, the ensemble has upcoming events, including a concert on Wednesday, May 20. The group will also participate in the township’s Memorial Day parade and service, while Kuntz wants them to practice all summer to prepare for the next season.

“I’m always appreciative of our high-school administration and the township for their support,” he said.