New London HS band's D.C. performance a chance to highlight power of diversity
Dec. 30—NEW LONDON — The New London High School auditorium on a recent Tuesday morning thrummed with the sounds of wailing saxophones, trilling flutes and cascading water as Band Director John DelVento's shoes tapped a tattoo on the conducting podium.
"We're musicians, the elite," he reminded symphonic band members as they played "Into the Storm" by the late composer Robert W. Smith. "We don't have to speak to create powerful emotions."
As the piece swelled to a crescendo, the feet of DelVento, who spent much of the day's rehearsal on his tiptoes waving a baton and shouting encouragement, caught air as he made little leaps of approval.
DelVento and his players have good reason to be enthused.
The band was chosen earlier this year to march through the streets of Washington, D.C. this coming May as the state of Connecticut's musical representatives in the National Memorial Day Parade.
For DelVento and his students, the honor is just the latest piece of good news received by a school district that's spent decades being viewed as a second-class educational system.
"I want people watching us march to see the power of diversity, to see a culturally and ethnically diverse group of students from all religions and backgrounds ― what America is all about," he said.
DelVento said the band, which was selected based on its past competition successes, will perform "Apache (Jump on It)" by the Sugarhill Gang on May 27 in front of tens of thousands of spectators.
That trip means resurrecting the school's marching band after years of dormancy and getting the fundamentals down pat in a short span of time.
"As soon as it gets warm, we'll be focusing our attention in class on marching," DelVento said. "It's about the power of working together ― parents, students and administrators ― not any one person."
For student performers, news of their band's selection served as validation after years of struggling with COVID-19 restrictions and outdated practice spaces.
"When Mr. DelVento came here a few years ago, we were at rock bottom," said Kyntrel Witherspoon, a 17-year-old percussionist. "He built us up."
DelVento, who was hired away from Windham High School three years ago ― he turned down a first offer for the job in 2017 ― has since become one of the New London's district's biggest boosters.
"We've seen an infusion of magnet school funding that allowed us a new band room where the students can shine," he said. "And we're seeing successes across all departments."
The high school earlier this month celebrated the completion of a $110 million expansion and renovation of its Multi-Magnet Campus. Months before, Kiana Foster-Mauro, a fourth-grade teacher at the Nathan Hale Arts Magnet School, was named the state's 2024 Teacher of the Year.
"It's things like our music, sports and after-school clubs that have made the difference here," said Shea Quashie, a 16-year-old percussionist and guitarist. "Everyone at this school sets you up to succeed."
Alto saxophonist Joy Schneider, 16, said her excitement for the capitol performance is slightly tempered by some nervousness.
"I want people to see that we have talent and that we're a family," she said.
