On Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, the Woodhaven Marching Band, directed by Mr. Bradley Faryniarz, will be hosting the March A Thon. The March A Thon is a six mile march the Woodhaven marching band does to the different elementary schools of the Woodhaven-Brownstown School District, and marches around the subdivisions near each school. This march helps raise funds for the performing arts programs as well as music scholarships that go towards the students at Woodhaven High School.
Senior flute section leader and piccolo player, Morgan Kelly, said, “The March-A-Thon is an incredibly important event for all who participate in it because it showcases the significance of community involvement – one of the important virtues of the Woodhaven Marching Band. All of us members really enjoy sharing music with our community and showing others what our group is truly about.”
For last year’s March A Thon, the marching band raised over $1,000. The March A Thon is a great way for parents and alumni from Woodhaven High School to be a part of something special they don’t see that often anymore. People can often donate more money beforehand and get a free concert right in front of their homes!
A lot of people enjoy the music the marching band plays. The director, Mr. Faryniarz, tries to choose music that is or was popular to make the experience more enjoyable for everyone. The band tries their best to include everyone and anyone in what they do, as well as trying to make the best of what they do for everyone involved.
The Woodhaven Marching Band does very few parade marches like this. Other parade marches they do would be when they go to Disney World every other year, as well as sometimes getting nominated to play in the Detroit Thanksgiving Parade sometimes. Usually, they play their halftime show at high school football games and at high school marching band competitions. At the March A Thon, they also play their halftime show, which this year is the theme Rain, which includes popular songs like “Thunderstruck” by AC/DC, “Fool in the Rain” by Led Zeppelin, “Midnight Rain” by Taylor Swift, and “It Will Rain” by Bruno Mars.
