JEFFERSON – The high-school bands across Ashtabula County play an integral role in the atmosphere of the Friday Night Lights.
The bands serve as the largest block of cheerleaders for their respective teams and only step into the spotlight for a short few minutes during halftime of the games.
The 16th Annual Falcon Band Night turned that spotlight on a little brighter and for a little longer at Falcon Pride Stadium on Saturday, Aug. 29.
“Band Night here is an opportunity for all the communities to see the work that the band members do,” Fred Burazer, director of the Jefferson Area High School Marching Band, said. “We love supporting the football teams on Friday nights, but these kids deserve a night that’s all their own and a chance to highlight the great work happening at all the schools in our county.”
The bands from Lakeside, Edgewood, Pymatuning Valley, Grand Valley, Geneva, Conneaut and Jefferson high schools participated in Falcon Band Night.
“It’s not always this way, but it worked out that this year we have all seven schools in the county in this show,” Burazer said. “It starts with a really great relationship from all of our directors in the county. We all talk all the time. We share ideas all the time. Our kids end up doing events together, and then our kids become friends at these events, too. We just had the Ashtabula County Honors Band play at the Fourth of July celebration in Giddings Park, and that was a collaboration of all seven of the schools. Really, this is just building on that relationship all of our schools and our students have together.”
Supporters of the bands filled the home section of Falcon Pride Stadium while the bands took up residence in the visitors’ bleachers where they supported one another.
“It never gets old seeing everybody come together in support,” Burazer said. “When I see people walk in, I see kids’ parents and grandparents, but I also see alumni and community members who don’t have anybody here. They circle this day early on the calendar. To see everybody from our community and other communities show up means so much to me. I hope they’re having a great time. I know I really am. I really enjoy this.”
Each band was given as much time as it wanted to perform in front of the home bleachers.
“We leave that up to every band,” Burazer said. “They can work whatever they’re working on and programming for their halftime shows. At a halftime show, you’re strictly stuck at about 10 minutes, but tonight, we don’t want them to be constrained for that. They can play whatever they want to play and as much as they want.”
Having that window to perform allows each band to showcase their talents and traditions.
“I feel like every school’s show is a little different, and so bigger is not a word I use, but it’s different and unique,” Burazer said. “I think maybe that’s a good point is that every school has their own traditions and celebrates those traditions. That’s why every show seems a little different because each school has their little touch and taste, while every band here tonight is different in their own way and so are their shows. That’s just a reflection of the history and tradition of a program. We lean on tradition and history a lot at Jefferson, and I know these schools do, too.”
Burazer enjoys talking to those who attend to support the bands.
“I think I mostly enjoy all the nice comments from people as I walk back and forth and seeing everybody and saying hi,” Burazer said. “It reminds me how appreciative I am to be in a position to work with my band students, and how much our community appreciates our band.”
Burazer expressed his own gratitude for his students.
“I was just thinking to make sure to mention how much I really appreciate and care for my students,” Burazer said. “I’m so grateful for them. Nights like this are a lot of work by the adults, but would mean nothing without the great students to do it. And, my students have come to work every single day this summer. They surprise me every day with their responsibility, energy and creativity. They’re just outstanding students, and I’m so appreciative of them.”
