The Marching Knights: we see them at the football games, but much of their talent and hard work goes unnoticed. North Penn’s music program is exemplified with grace and dignity in the Marching Knights.

Any teacher or student who has stayed at school past 2:22 has heard the Marching Knights practicing in the parking lot: whether it is clear skies, 20 degrees, or pouring rain…the Knights are practicing.

Last year, the Marching Knights’ determination lead them to become the best team out of 35 marching bands, winning the Pennsylvania State Championships. Although the Marching Knights are competing a great season with three first place wins, they were faced with the challenge of adjusting to a young student majority.

“This is the youngest version of the Marching Knights we have ever put on the field. We graduated a large senior class last year, so we knew the group would get younger this year and we were able to plan our summer schedule to maximize time spent on fundamentals,” said band director Michael Britcher.

Although it was a new transitional process for the new young band members, Britcher explains that he “thinks this has been very positive for all involved.”

“It has forced the staff to really take a close look at our teaching process, so that we are breaking down the instructions into smaller pieces for the younger students,” said Britcher.

For senior members, they are finishing out an amazing high school Marching Knights career. While many seniors are busy juggling a regular high school course load and applying to college, these seniors are also dealing with marching band competitions almost every other weekend.

“As drum major I have to be a role model for the entire band and set a good example. Drum majors relay information from the staff to the band members so we are a link between the two. It has been a great 3 years and I’m glad I made the choice to join and stay with the organization,” said senior Brett Slifer, drum major, reflecting on his involvement with the Marching Knights.

The color guard is integral part of the Marching Knights.

“I started marching knights when I was only a freshman because they needed more guard members so they pulled a few from the middle schools. At first it was a lot and stressful, with all the time and hard practices. But after some time I started to enjoy it and making some friends along the way which made me stay. Being Guard president is such an honor, I love going out and receiving awards that we all work hard for. It’s great being Guard president in my senior year” reflects senior Ashley Hepler, Guard President.

The Knights have been giving all their NP spirit during every performance and it has paid off. “We have done very well. We have won three of our six shows thus far, and have not finished lower than second at any event yet. Two of those shows were quite large – a second out of 21 bands at the first show of the year, and a second out of 45 bands this past weekend at JMU,” says Britcher.

At the Pennsylvania State Championship competition on November 3rd, the Knights placed second.
This past weekend at the USSBA National Championship at Met-Life stadium, the Marching Knights placed second, beating season-long competitor Nazareth Area High School. The Knights were also awarded the title of Best Visual.

“In the awards we have come in either first or second at different competitions. But we don’t compete against other bands. We compete against ourselves. The drill and music is our biggest competitor. Our expectations are what we strive for. Setting a standard that other bands look to with shock and awe,” said senior Rebecca Carroll, Band President.

“My three years on the marching knights have been so unbelievable its hard to imagine not being apart of this organization after this year. The program itself has taught me a level discipline that is something I have incorporated into my daily life. The reason I truly love the program is because of the people. I’ve made friends that I wouldn’t risk ever losing. But one of my favorite parts is actually sitting on bus with all of these people traveling for up to six hours to arrive at a place where we don’t perform as individuals but as an amazing uniform group. I owe all of this to our amazing directors and staff but I really owe it to my sister. She is the one who I looked up to when I decided to do band. The time commitment in band is always exhausting but it is worth it to be able to be one of the best at what you do. As band president there was no better feeling than standing on the field at awards hearing them call ‘North Penn’.”

As always the Marching Knights displayed their amazing North Penn spirit, pride, and dedication. Congrats to the seniors and everyone involved in the Marching Knights for a remarkable season.