Marching band takes first place at competition

SPARTA — On Oct. 15 the Sparta High School Marching Spartans competed in the 27th Annual Mount Olive High School Marching Band Competition in Flanders. The band, comprised of over 70 members, performed this year’s show entitled “We Are Sparta: The Last Stand of the Spartan 300,” featuring the music of Holst, Lauridsen, and Verdi. At the end of the evening, the Marching Spartans were awarded First Place Overall in their division, as well as Best Music, Best Overall Effect and Best Percussion. The members of the Marching Spartans dedicate countless hours of rehearsal toward honing their craft. In addition to performing at football games and various community events, they will be competing at the NJ State Championships on Nov. 5th, where they have ranked in the top four in their division for the last two years. They will also be participating in their first ever National Championship Competition on Nov. 13 in Allentown, Penn. The Marching Spartans have been members of the Sparta community since the school’s opening in 1959.