Legion band again takes top honors

Local News

September 1, 2010

Staff Reports The Tonawanda News The Tonawanda News Wed Sep 01, 2010, 01:23 AM EDT

— — The American Legion Band of the Tonawandas Post 264 again took top honors in this year’s national band championship held in Milwaukee.

The American Legion National Convention held its annual national band contest in the Wisconsin city last week. The event drew bands from around the country including the second-place American Legion Band from Joliet, Ill., which finished second with 90.0, more than four points shy of the Tonawandas’ final score.

“After an intense week of preparation, the (band) performed in the Milwaukee Symphony Hall at the American Legion National Concert Band Contest,” a press release issued on behalf of the band states. “The 30 minute performance drew cheers and a rousing applause bringing the crowd to its feet and the band subsequently took first place in the contest ...”

Selections performed under Music Director Michael Shaw included: Overture to "Candide" by Leonard Bernstein, “Navigation Inn” by Philip Sparke and “Wild Blue Yonder,” written by composer James Barnes.

Now in its 81st year, the Band has earned 17 national championships since being formed in 1929 by World War I veterans and Post 264 members.

The 90-member ensemble is now led by Shaw, who is director of music at Frontier High School.

Band members have earned state-level championships almost continuously since 1947, the release states. They have earned national championships in 1972, 1973, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2008, 2009 and 2010. The band has also won the Canadian national exhibition six times. At the CNE, the President's Trophy was awarded permanently to the Band after winning it for three consecutive years, a feat never before accomplished in the history of the CNE band contest. Players from the Tonawandas have performed around the world.

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