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Co-Op Marching Band Does Well at Nationals

The East Haven High School Co-Op Marching Band (which also has nine students from North Branford) recently competed at USBands A Class National Championships in Allentown, Pennsylvania, placing eighth overall out of 15 bands in the 2A class.

However, the band’s drum line and percussion section placed first, and the color guard placed second. The band previously won both Connecticut State and New England Championships for the 2A group.

Band Director Matthew Laudano said this was the perfect season from the beginning of band camp to the last day. He said the students stayed motivated and dedicated the whole time.

“These guys have worked harder than any other group that I’ve worked with so far in my six years here as band director,” Laudano said prior to taking them to nationals.

USBands describes itself as the largest sanctioning body for scholastic music competitions in the United States and judges competitions involving tens of thousands of students each year, according to the organization.

East Haven Board of Education Chairman (BOE) John Finkle was present to see the band off for nationals, and said that the band put in so much effort and worked very hard to make it to nationals. He said parents of band members were also dedicated to the band’s efforts, and it was a proud moment for the BOE.

Parents wanted to thank McDermott Chevrolet for donating the truck used to haul equipment to the national competition, and Finkle wanted to thank Clem Laurello for paying for the coach buses in which the kids rode to nationals.