Marching band set to do the ‘Northern thing’ and celebrate the season by ANNETTE JOYCE In his third year as Northern Guilford High School’s band director, Kiyoshi Carter remains impressed with the school’s culture.
“The really cool thing about Northern is the sense of community,” he said. Nowhere is that more evident than at a Friday night home football game. Carter recently talked about how at
most schools, different groups are doing their own thing and staying largely separate from each other. Not at Northern. “Everyone celebrates anyone in purple. It feels like everyone is doing the ‘Northern thing,’” he said, noting it’s a really fun atmosphere for all involved. The Nighthawks’ marching band is right in the middle of the frenzy, helping to drive the crowd crazy with its impressive half-time show and interactive activities throughout the game. This year’s half-time show
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features songs from Bruno Mars, the award-winning singer/songwriter known for his catchy pop music and energetic live performances. Carter said there was one song he really wanted to do, “Leave the Door Open,” which is a soulful song with a ‘70s sound. Once he found the arrangement for that song, he built the rest of the program around it. “24K Magic” will be the lead-off song, and will segue into “Leave the Door Open.” If the crowd’s not already on their feet dancing at that point, it surely will be when the band brings the show to a close with the very popular “Uptown Funk.” While the half-time show is a highlight of the night, what happens on the sidelines is just as spectacular. The band has a playlist of about 20 or so “stand tunes” to keep the crowd pumped. And then, when the drumline spreads out across the front of the stands and starts performing after the third quarter, fans are sure to go wild. This almost always ends with the drummers forming a tunnel and cheerleaders, students, and even an administrator or two dancing through to be individually “celebrated.” One thing Carter and his students are celebrating this
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Kiyoshi Carter, band director Photo courtesy of Strawbridge Studios
year is a return to a more normal school year. With pandemic-related restrictions destroying the traditional high school experience for the last two years, the marching band didn’t go unscathed. The number of band members is down a bit, and members have lost opportunities to learn and grow.
“This is a rebuilding year for us,” Carter said. “Most of our band members are returning folks. They’re playing well and they’re stepping up to take on leadership roles. I couldn’t be more pleased.” Celebration through music is very important to Carter, who discovered his love of music early in life. He sings, plays several instruments, teaches and conducts – all in an effort to share the impact of music. Along with the marching band, Carter is responsible for two concert bands, a percussion ensemble, jazz band and an AP music theory class. Even though he admits to having “a full plate,” he still finds time to conduct the Greensboro Concert Band, comprised of about 100 non-professional musicians.
Back to School!
