There’s no question that music is a universal language that bridges gaps. Need proof? Look no further than what took place Monday in Weehawken, when a major college marching band interacted with a group of high school students and fellow musicians.
The story begins last year, when the Weehawken High School marching band performed in a competition in Florida.
Weehawken High School Vice Principal Steve Spinosa, who was for decades in charge of the Weehawken marching band, just happened to be talking to the travel agent who arranged the trip.
“She asked me if we had a place in Weehawken where a marching band could practice,” Spinosa said.
“It’s a great feeling for us to show off our great facilities and great views.” – Richard Turner
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“We [had] brought a group in 2002 to the Macy’s Parade,” said University of Southern Mississippi band director Mohamad Schuman. “We practiced in the hotel parking lot where we stayed in Newark, but it really wasn’t suitable. We were looking for a better place.”
The travel agent recommended Weehawken to Schuman, who then contacted Spinosa. Schuman came to Weehawken last month to check out the location at the township’s Waterfront Park and Recreation Area on Port Imperial Boulevard.
“For what they wanted to do, there weren’t a lot of places where they could practice,” Spinosa said. “I called Mayor [Richard] Turner and he said we could arrange it.”
Schuman came to visit Weehawken and came away impressed.
“I picked him up in New York and brought him here,” Spinosa said. “When he got out of the car, he said, ‘Oh, my goodness.’ He said it was like a postcard, with the view and the backdrop.”
“Steve was an incredible host, and yes, I loved the location,” Schuman said. “It was a really cool place. It was going to work.”
So last Monday, the University of Southern Mississippi marching band and kick-line dance team, called the Dixie Darlings, arrived in Weehawken after a 24-hour bus ride to begin preparations for their performance in the world’s most famous parade.
“They arrived with six tour buses,” Spinosa said. “It was amazing.”
Spinosa thought it would be a good idea to have the members of the Weehawken marching band, which competes all over, to be there to greet their musical visitors.
“It was a good opportunity for our kids to play host to them,” Spinosa said. “We had refreshments and such waiting for them. The 300 or so members got off the bus and went right to work.”
Students impressed
Something was evident right away – the incredible sound that came from this extraordinary band.
“It was unbelievable, seeing our kids’ reactions when they heard that first note,” said Weehawken band director Michael Lichtenfeld. “All of their faces lit up. It was amazing to see. It was a massive, beautiful sound.”
“I never saw a band like that before in person,” said Weehawken High senior Andrew Casquejo, who is a drummer in the Weehawken marching band. “It was a great experience for me. It confirmed my thoughts about going into college and performing with the band. It was almost shocking to see that and witness that.”
Senior Vanessa Perez, a member of the Weehawken color guard, agreed.
“It was amazing,” Perez said. “We normally work with such a small amount of students, so this blew my mind. To hear those beautiful sounds with such power showed me how beautiful music really is. It was unbelievable that they were here.”
For two hours, “The Pride of Mississippi Marching Band” and the “Dixie Darlings” performed and practiced for the kids of Weehawken. Others who saw the activities stopped to watch.
“Some of the Southern Mississippi kids got dressed in their uniforms and posed with our kids who were in their uniforms,” Spinosa said. “They showed their southern hospitality to our kids. They were so grateful to have had this chance, so they put on a show for our kids. It was magnificent. It was a wonderful scenario.”
Schuman couldn’t have asked for a better setting.
“Realistically, it was like a dream come true for our band,” Schuman said. “The setting and backdrop were tremendous and we were lucky to have gorgeous weather as well. It gave a charge to everyone involved. We knew that we were going to perform in the Macy’s Parade for the last two years and have been talking about it for two years. Here we were, right across the river from New York. It was saying, ‘Hey, we’re really here and we made it.’ The people of Weehawken made us feel comfortable.”
Weehawken Mayor Richard Turner was glad to be able to accommodate the University of Southern Mississippi band.
“We get requests to use our facilities all the time, but this one was unique,” Turner said. “When people come from other areas of the country, they’re just overwhelmed. It’s a great feeling for us to show off our great facilities and great views. People from all over the country just love their stay in Weehawken.”
Jim Hague can be reached at OGSMAR@aol.com.