Mars Area Indoor Percussion’s performance of “Chain(ges)” took second place in the Percussion Scholastic A competition. The team received a combined score of 87.875, earning top honors for visual effect.
Mars Area Winterguard received sixth place (78.520) for its program, “Look for the Helpers.”
Senior Maggie Suppo and senior Lyra Whitcroft were selected for Kelly Bollman Winter Ensemble Scholarships and senior Erik Wingertsahn for a Peter J. Spadaro Winter Ensemble Scholarship.
For more information, visit www.trwea.org.
2024 PIMBA Championships
The Fightin’ Planets, who competed against Class A bands from Deer Lakes, Southmoreland, Trinity and Yough high schools, received a combined score of 87.025.
This year’s marching band show, titled Up in Lights, features the songs, “When I Grow Up” by PCD; “Applause” by Lady Gaga; “Lucky” by Britney Spears; and “Blinding Lights” by The Weeknd.
For more information, visit www.pimba.org.
Baldwin Band Festival
The Fightin’ Planets, who competed against Class A bands from Deer Lakes and Southmoreland high schools, received a combined score of 85.150 and earned top honors in the Music Effect category.
This year’s marching band show, titled Up in Lights, features the songs, “When I Grow Up” by PCD; “Applause” by Lady Gaga; “Lucky” by Britney Spears; and “Blinding Lights” by The Weeknd.
The marching band will next compete in the 2024 PIMBA Championships, to be held from 4 to 8:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 26, at Gateway High School (Monroeville). (The Planets will perform at approximately 6 p.m.) Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for students and will be available for purchase at the gate.
For more information, visit www.pimba.org.
“Night on Cougar Mountain” Marching Band Competition
Mars Area High School Marching Band competed in the PIMBA “Night on Cougar Mountain” Marching Band competition, held Oct. 5 at Yough Senior High School,
In the Class A division, the Fightin’ Planets earned a combined score of 80.750. This year’s marching band show, titled Up in Lights, features the songs, “When I Grow Up” by PCD; “Applause” by Lady Gaga; “Lucky” by Britney Spears; and “Blinding Lights” by The Weeknd.
For more information, visit www.pimba.org.
Norwin Marching Band Competition
Mars Area High School Marching Band earned second place in Class A competition and third place overall at the PIMBA Marching Band competition, held Sept. 21 at Norwin High School.
The Fightin’ Planets earned a combined score of 82.325, receiving top honors in the music performance and visual performance categories.al performance and general effect categories.
This year’s marching band show, titled Up in Lights, features the songs, “When I Grow Up” by PCD; “Applause” by Lady Gaga; “Lucky” by Britney Spears; and “Blinding Lights” by The Weeknd. Drum major is junior Carter Snyder.
The band will next compete in the PIMBA Marching Band competition, to be held from 5 to 7:20 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 4, at Yough Senior High School (Herminie, Pa.) The band is expected to take the field at approximately 6 p.m.
For more information, visit www.pimba.org.
2023-2024
2024 TRWEA Championships
Mars Indoor Percussion earned first place with an overall score of 87.200 in the Percussion Scholastic A competition. The team, which performed its show, “From Dust,” also earned top honors for both music and visual effect.
Members include seniors Cassie Cannon, Ella Drutarosky, Lauren Haley, Delaney Reddinger, Emma MacDonald, Jenny Morrison, Meghan Smith, Alex Schumann and Hanna Stephenson; juniors Carson Mahan, Garrett Mallick, Ryder Merriman, Madelyn Turney, Lyra Whitcroft and Erik Wingertsahn; sophomores Sara Biaggini, Hadley Davis, Matthew Fenio, Maggie Fitzgerald, Aidan Krepin, Kaden Ostapchenko, Carter Snyder and Audrey Stephenson; freshmen Alexis Abbey, Sophia Furman, Madisyn McAfee, Audrey Sarvey and Hali Spanik; eighth-grader Luke Romig; and, seventh-graders Mia Battilana and Liam Duff.
Mars Area Winterguard took fourth place (81.240) in the Scholastic A contest. The team presented its program, “Lovesick.”
Winterguard members include senior Hanna Grunden; sophomore Alexis Lawther; freshmen Joey Fitzgerald and Mackenzie Ivanchan; eighth-graders Layla Crofutt, Kayden Gromacki, Charlotte Forcht, Natalie Hagen and Lilly Miller; and, seventh-graders Ella Ostapchanko, Emma Sims and Callem Stewart.
Also of note, seniors Emma MacDonald, Ashley Milk, Meghan Smith and Hanna Stephenson were selected for TRWEA scholarships, which are awarded to those students in good academic standing, who demonstrate leadership qualities and service participation.
For more information, visit www.trwea.org.
WGI Mideast Percussion & Winds Power Regional Finals
The team took second place with a score of the 84.563 in the Percussion Scholastic A division, competing against ensembles from Greenfield-Central (Greenfield, Ind.), Sycamore (Cincinnati, Ohio) and Francis Howell (St. Charles, Mo.) high schools. The team performed its show, “From Dust.”
For more information, visit https://wgi.org/scores/.
2023 PIMBA Championships
The Fightin’ Planets, who competed against Class 2A bands from Baldwin, Deer Lakes, Fox Chapel, and Upper St. Clair high schools, earned a combined score of 86.550, receiving top honors for music and visual performance.
This year’s marching band show, titled Oh What Tangled Webs We Weave, features the songs “Little Lies” by Fleetwood Mac, “Chant” by Robert Glasper, “Tarantella” by Carmine Coppola, and “Shelob’s Lair” by Howard Leslie Shore.
For more information, visit www.pimba.org.
Gateway Contest of Champions
The Fightin’ Planets, who competed against bands from Baldwin, Leechburg and Upper St. Clair high schools, earned a combined score of 83.975, receiving top honors for music performance as well as music and visual effect.
This year’s marching band show, titled Oh What Tangled Webs We Weave, features the songs “Little Lies” by Fleetwood Mac, “Chant” by Robert Glasper, “Tarantella” by Carmine Coppola, and “Shelob’s Lair” by Howard Leslie Shore.
The band will next compete at the Deer Lakes Marching Band Festival, to be held from 5:45 to 8:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 14, at Deer Lakes High School (Cheswick, Pa.). The band is expected to take the field at approximately 6:45 p.m.
For more information, visit www.pimba.org.
WGI Dayton Percussion Finals
Mars Area High School Indoor Percussion and Winterguard teams each placed in recent competitions.
Mars Indoor Percussion took third place with an overall score of 87.800 in the Percussion Scholastic A competition at the WGI (Winter Guard International) Dayton Percussion Finals, held March 18 in Dayton, Ohio. The Planets competing against teams from high school in Illinois, Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York.
Mars Area Winterguard received second place with an overall score of 80.760 and top marks for Effect in the Scholastic A competition at the TRWEA (Three Rivers Winter Ensemble Association) Top Hats event, held March 18 at Hempfield High School. The Planets went up against teams from Gateway, Kiski Area and Mt. Lebanon high schools.
For more information visit https://wgi.org/ or www.trwea.org/index.php.
2023 WGI Pittsburgh Colorguard Regional
Mars Area High School’s Winterguard Team competed at the 2023 WGI Pittsburgh Colorguard Regional, held March 4 at Norwin High School.
The team took sixth place in the Scholastic A, Division I competition with an overall score of 77.300 for its performance of “To Even Exist.” For more information, visit https://recaps.competitionsuite.com/13c2002c-148f-498b-980a-ac7e2b88f0d5.htm.
2022 PIMBA Class 2A Championships
The Fightin’ Planets, who competed against bands from Baldwin, Burrell, Fox Chapel, Penn Hills and Trinity high schools, earned a combined score of 89.675. The band also received top honors for music and visual performance and general effect.
This year’s marching band show, entitled A World Up In Flames, is loosely based on the book, “Fahrenheit 451” by Ray Bradbury and features the songs “Symphony of Psalms” by Igor Stravinsky, “Burn” by Hamilton and “Window of the Waking Mind” by Coheed and Cambria.
For more information, visit www.pimba.org.
Moon Area Marching Band Festival
The Fightin’ Planets, who competed against bands from Baldwin, Burrell and Trinity high schools, earned a combined score of 87.250 in Class 2A competition receiving top honors for music and visual performance as well as music and visual effect.
This year’s marching band show, entitled A World Up In Flames, is loosely based on the book, “Fahrenheit 451” by Ray Bradbury and features the songs “Symphony of Psalms” by Igor Stravinsky, “Burn” by Hamilton and “Window of the Waking Mind” by Coheed and Cambria.
The band will next compete at the PIMBA Championships, to be held from 4:15 to 9:45 p.m. at on Saturday, Oct. 22, at Norwin High School (Irwin, Pa.). The band is expected to take the field at approximately 8:15 p.m.
For more information, visit www.pimba.org.
Marching Band Introduces 2022-2023 Halftime Show
Mars Area High School Marching Band’s 2022-2023 Halftime Show is titled A World Up In Flames.
The show, which is loosely based on the book, “Fahrenheit 451” by Ray Bradbury, features the songs “Symphony of Psalms” by Igor Stravinsky, “Burn” by Hamilton and “Window of the Waking Mind” by Coheed and Cambria.
Featured performers will include senior Ian Fuechslin (alto saxophone) and junior Alex Schumann (mellophone). Drum majors are juniors Amanda Horrocks and Meghan Smith.
The marching band will perform at all home football games (Sept. 2, 16 & 22; Oct. 7, 21 & 28) as well as at various Pennsylvania Interscholastic Marching Band Association and Bands of America competitions.
For more information, call (724) 625-15