Scatter Band Takes the Field

Scatter

Band

For the Archbishop Mitty community, several traditions signal the start of the school year: Freshman Orientation, Back to School Night, and of course, varsity football games. At halftime, after the football players head to the locker room, another team takes the field. They’re wacky with wind instruments… funny with flutes… and they have tubas: The Archbishop Mitty Scatter Band! Music at varsity football games has a long history dating back to when our band director, Ms. Lauren Bevilacqua, was a student at Archbishop Mitty.

“We were under the direction of Mr. Kimont, we sat in the stands and wore

our hockey jerseys,” Ms. Bevilacqua said.

“There was a cartoon lion playing the trumpet. I still have mine.”

Over the years, the school explored the idea of taking the band out of the stands and onto the field. In 2016, when Ms. Bevilacqua took over the wind ensemble class, the scatter band format was launched, and we haven’t looked back. What is a scatter band you ask? It is a field show genre characterized by humor and based on a theme or topic. The performers “scatter,” or run haphazardly, from one formation to the next. This type of halftime show has become iconic at certain colleges, including Stanford, Harvard, and various Ivy League schools. At Archbishop Mitty, the scatter band creates a show around a topic that is connected by dialogue read by a narrator. Previous shows have been focused on Spirit Week or even movie themes — including one performance where students reenacted the famous scene from “Raiders of the Lost Ark” where Indiana Jones is chased by a giant boulder, but this time in human form on the football field!

Takes The By Doug Santana - Director of Performing Arts Field

“It’s been a fun way for the band kids to be creative and to learn to work together to write and perform a completed

show,” Ms. Bevilacqua said. “ After a year and a half of not playing together due to the The process of creating this hilarious halftime entertainment occurs during the academic day in the wind ensemble class, where 47 musicians collaborate pandemic, everyone was to come up with concepts, write diaexcited to get on the field logue, rehearse formations, and learn and do our show music. This process takes about two to ” three weeks for each field show and gets repeated four to five times during the Jessica Taddeo ’22 fall semester. Ms. Bevilacqua has the support of several student leaders, including instrument captains, section leaders, and the drum major, in making shows happen.

“After a year and a half of not playing together due to the pandemic, everyone was excited to get on the field and do

our show,” said Drum Major Jessica Taddeo ’22. “The band

sounds so good!”

The Archbishop Mitty scatter band has become a tradition at home football games. Each year, the program continues to grow and expand. So next time you enter the stands to cheer on the Monarchs at a home football game, instead of heading to the snack bar at halftime, stay in your seats and enjoy the show. The scatter band will be waiting for you!