By Amanda McGregor
SALEM — The Salem High School Marching Band is ending its season on a high note.
The band won a platinum medal competing in the Marching Band Festival Class at the New England Scholastic Band Association (NESBA) championships earlier this month.
Eighty-five students in the band and color guard participated in the competition, in which the band performed three pieces by composer Aaron Copland, according to band director Cynthia Napierkowski.
"Platinum is the highest rating you can receive," she said. "It was huge because it's our second year (winning platinum)."
The marching band held its last rehearsal in the field house last night.
"Thanksgiving is a big crowd, so we want to make sure we're prepared and look good and sound good," Napierkowski said of tomorrow's Salem-Beverly football game, which will be played in Salem this year.
"We don't get to see other bands at the football games, so this is the one time we get to see another band when we're not at a competition," she said.
One of Salem's drum majors, Ryan Buchanan, is the nephew of longtime Beverly High School band director Ray Novack, she noted.
At last night's final rehearsal, awards were presented, and for the first time the nine-member drum line received the award for "best section." The 14 musicians in the alto saxophone section were presented with an award for "most improved section."
"They actually did all kinds of extra rehearsals on their own playing and marching," Napierkowski said. "We had rehearsal on Halloween until 1 p.m., and they stayed until 3:30."
