December 7, 2004

 

Contact:            Dr. Ed Cannava

                        Arapahoe High School

                        303-347-6031

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

 

Arapahoe Warrior Marching Band Named 2nd Place Overall Band at 2004 Parade of Lights

 

Centennial, Colorado—The Arapahoe High School Warrior Marching Band, under the direction of Dr. Ed Cannava, was named the 2nd Place Overall Band in the Excel Energy and Storage Tech Marching Band contests at the Parade of Lights in Downtown Denver on December 3rd and 4th.

 

This year’s theme was “Santa, Please Bring a Puppy for Christmas”. Each band member wore a puppy in a backpack, with multiple lights on their uniform. The sousaphone players wore full costumed puppy outfits, and the banner carriers dressed like puppies as well. The Color Guard dressed like little kids in pajamas, eagerly awaiting Santa’s arrival. The band director wore a multi-colored, sequence-lit bow tie.

 

During the drum cadence, the band performed 360-degree turns followed by “Ghostbusters” boogie-style march steps. On December 3rd, the band placed third in the Music/Marching competition, while on the 4th, the band placed second in the overall Lighting Presentation competition. Arapahoe won two cash prizes and placed second overall in the competition sponsored by Storage Tech. The Warrior Band has received an automatic bid to perform in next year’s 2005 Parade of Lights. This is the third time out of the last four years that the Warrior Band has placed 1st or 2nd in the Parade of Lights Street Parade Competition.

 

The Arapahoe Band is led by drum majors Ben Link and Rob Wojahn.

 

Arapahoe Band’s student section leaders include: Sara Denman, Flute; Lise Strom, Clarinet; Jake Dykes, Alto Sax; Alex Hill, Tenor Sax; Bobby Cassara, Trumpet; Jessica Swift, Mellowbrass; Tim Clarkson, Battery Percussion; Chris Gottlieb, Pit Percussion; Tricia Cannava, Color Guard; and Amy Rausch, Banner Carriers. Squad Leaders include: Stephanie Watts, Flute; Amberle Leak, Alto Sax; Katie Dwyer, Trumpet; Mark Gutman, Baritone; and Sonnett D’Agosta, Color Guard.

 

The Arapahoe Band Staff includes: Fred Bowlus, Joe Vaccarelli and Matt Clarkson, Percussion; Katie Cumsille and Kenny Bailey, Color Guard; Bruce Fox, Marching; Heather Davis, Clarinet and Woodwinds; Debbie Young, Flute; Laura Jones, Saxophone; Missy Steinbock, Trumpet; Ron Torp, Mellophone; and Jeff Craig, Low Brass.