MARCHING BACK INTO COMPETITION — The Milton Area High School marching band gets in some practice earlier this month. Look for them Sept. 15 on Alumni Field as they step back into the ring of competition by hosting the return of the Milton Harvest Festival Tournament of Bands after a 16-year hiatus

Fest welcomes back battle of the bands
Aug 24, 2007

By Jeff Shaffer, Standard-Journal Staff writer
Published: Friday, August 24, 2007
Reprinted with permission

MILTON — The beat of the drums, the sound of the horns and the crisp steps of the musicians will all be returning to Milton.

The Milton Harvest Festival Tournament of Bands is making a return thanks to the focus and direction of Brett Hosterman, Milton Area High School’s second-year band director, and the support of the Milton High School Band Association.

It’s been 16 years since bands have competed during Milton’s annual festival.“It is with great pleasure that the Milton Harvest Festival welcomes the return of the Tournament of Bands to the festival schedule,” said Dale Kriner, Harvest Fest committee chairman.

Kriner said Hosterman approached the committee about bringing back the tournament, and it fit right into the schedule.

The tournament is planned for 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 15, at the high school’s Alumni Stadium. The gates will open at 5. Tickets are $3 for students and $5 for adults. So far, Milton plans to host the following schools: Mifflinburg, Bloomsburg, Schuylkill Haven, Line Mountain and Loyalsock Township. Kriner said perhaps the bands will be able to participate in the festival parade earlier in the day at 1 p.m. Kriner said the tournament dissolved due to of the cost of judging and the band boosters wanted to go in a different direction — more of a show band.

“It’s coming back because of Brett,” said Kriner. “He’s taking the band in a new direction and the kids and band boosters want to go. We’re in full support of it, too.”

Kriner said for years when the schedule for the festival was released and the Tournament of Bands wasn’t included, he heard the grumbling. So this comes as a relief to many.“We’re glad someone is willing to do it,” noted Kriner.

Hosterman, who started thinking of the tournament last year, is a believer that competition is an important part of the band experience. He said he is not aware of Milton taking part in a competition since 1991, during the Harvest Festival. The band may have participated as an exhibition since then, he said.

Looking back on his years of competition with the Mifflinburg Area High School band, the 2002 graduate said, “At first, competing was kind of intimidating, but the more we did it, it became fun." His students are looking forward to it.

“It’s exciting; I think it’ll be a good turnout,” said drum major Katrina Rote of New Columbia. “Everyone’s talking about it.

“(Hosterman) is doing a lot of good.” The tournament is an early one in regard to the typical band competition season, Hosterman said. Some bands may not have all of their material ready. The season is from the end of September through November.

“We wanted to keep it a part of the Harvest Festival,” he said. “If we need to move it for more bands (to come out), the (festival) committee wouldn’t be against it.”

The Harvest Festival committee wishes to thank Hosterman and the Milton High School Band Association for sponsoring and organizing the event and devoting many hours of hard work to bring it back.

This competition is a part of Hosterman’s plan to make the music program more visible in the community. Look for the Milton band to participate in other competitions later this fall.

Jeff Shaffer: 570-742-9671
jeff@standard-journal.com

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