Fall River’s BMC Durfee High School Marching Band takes home state title after undefeated season, nationals up next

A Fall River high school captured a state title over the weekend.

The undefeated BMC Durfee High School Marching Band took home the A-Group 1 US Bands Massachusetts Championship at Stoughton High School on Saturday.

The competition was scored based on music proficiency, ensemble music, music effect, visual, visual effect, colorguard and percussion. Durfee scored a whopping 92.6 beating Norwood by a comfortable 7.5 points.

The win was a group effort which included:

Director(s)

Julia Klingner (Director) Ryan Lewis (Assistant Director)

Drum Major(s)

Brandy Hernandez Colon, Omar Mahmoud

Section Leaders

Wade Rogers (Percussion Captain), Allane Anes-Spinola (Color Guard Captain)

Design Staff – Visual

Shawn Lewis

Design Staff – Auxiliary

Hayleigh Kelley

Instructional Staff – Music

Peter Twiraga

Instructional Staff – Visual

Brandon Chan

Instructional Staff – Percussion

Pedro Silva

Instructional Staff – Auxiliary

Hannah Paquette

Lead Band Director Julia Klingner is proud of her group and the band is not done as they now head to nationals.

“I am very proud of these students and the hard work and dedication they have shown this year. I am also very grateful for the Durfee marching band staff. We have an excellent group of coaches and educators who have gone above and beyond in preparing the group this season. Our show this year is the most demanding in Durfee’s recent history and everyone has risen to the occasion. We look forward to vying for a national title at the US Bands Division I A Finals in Allentown, PA on November 3rd.”

Another local team, the Dartmouth Marching Band, took home the Open-Group IV title.