What an exciting weekend for the WDMB! This weekend we opened our competitive season with a BANG by participating in two Tournament of Bands competitions. The response speaks for itsself, "Ballerina" is a Hit. Months of hard work was set in motion Saturday night at Brick Memorial HS where the WDMB took home the highest score of the entire event with a debut score of 84.40. The following day the WDMB traveled to North Jersey for the Tournament of Bands competition at Madison HS. Again, the WDMB put on a fantastic performance and earned their second GRAND CHAMPION title with a score opf 86.20! ON sunday as we battlke with light rain and cooler temps, our amazing pit crew was also recognized with an award for BEST PIT CREW! It was truly an amazing start to our season. Thank you to everyone who made it out to support us.

Competitive standings:

• The WDMB is the #1 ranked Group III Open Class Band
• The WDMB is currently the 2nd highest scoring band of the 130 bands in Tournament of Bands (TOB)

TONIGHT! PARENTS! We need YOU at our most important parents' meeting of the year! It's our last meeting before our Home Show, and we need everyone!! Please make every effort to come out
TONIGHT 10/5 at 8:00 p.m. in the WDHS Auditorium. Thank you!!!

SCHEDULE CHANGES LAST WEEK - Thank you to everyone for being flexible with our schedule adjustments last week. We do not like to alter our schedules, but to keep us moving in the right direction and overcome weather challenges, they are needed. Thank you. 

PIT CREW - We want to send a HUGE thank you to all of the parents and alumni parents who have been working their butts off for the WDMB. Again, the results speak for themselves. The music box prop was a very intricate item to both logistically and physically work out. It is a showstopping moment that they abolutely made happen. We couldn't do it with out them.

Video Recordings - We ask that you do not post any video recordings of the WDMB until after the season is complete. We are constantly improving and adding to the show, and we do not want to be judged by any previous performance. Yes, people check things out, if available. We want everyone to experience our show LIVE. Thank you.

WDMB Senior Recognition Night - Friday, 10/16 will be WDMB Senior Recognition Night. WDHS honors our seniors and their parents before the game. This event  is run by the WDHS administration. It is a great public THANK YOU to everyone's dedication and support.

PARENT EMAILS: Parents, are you getting emails from our Band Parents Organization? If not, please send an email to wdhsbandparents@gmail.com with the subject line "ADD ME" and you will be added to the list. Parent communications are different than communications from Mr. Kershaw. Stay in the know about special events and opportunities to support your kids.

Our WD Band Parents are also on Facebook at www.facebook.com/WestDeptfordBandParents - be sure to follow.

This week, we are preparing for our upcoming Tournament of Bands competition at Washington Twp HS. This is a very big local show for us and we need as many WDMB supporters in the stands as we go head to head with some of our toughest competitiors. Make a plan to attend and bring friends. Tickets will be available from Mr. Kershaw, as soon as they arrive.

Here is this week's schedule:
Monday, 10/5 - HOME SHOW BAND PARENTS MEETING 8pm
Tuesday, 10/6 - Rehearsal 6pm-9pm
Wednesday, 10/7 - Rehearsal 6pm-9pm
Thursday, 10/8 - Nothing Scheduled (for real)
Friday, 10/9 - Rehearsal 5pm-9pm (with shakos!)
Saturday, 10/10 - Washington Twp. TOB - Full Lineup
    1:30p - Rehearsal Begins
    4:30p - Rehearsal Ends/Load Trucks
    5:00p - Dinner (provided)
    7:00p - Depart for Washington Twp HS
    7:30p - Arrive at Washington Twp HS
    9:30p - WDHS Performs
    10:45p - Awards
    11:45p - Depart for WDHS
    12:15a - Arrive at WDHS, unload buses / trucks stay loaded
    12:45a - Dismissed
Sunday 10/11 - Nothing Scheduled

Here is our tentative HOME SHOW WEEK schedule:
Mon. 10/12 - Nothing Scheduled
Tue. 10/13 - Rehearsal 6p-9p
Wed. 10/14 -  Rehearsal 6p-9p
Thu. 10/15 -  Rehearsal 6p-9p
Fri. 10/16 - FB (H) Delran & WDMB Senior Recognition Night & WDMB Middle School Night!
    5:00p Arrive at WDHS
    5:30p Warmups & Rehearsal
    6:30p Lineup and march into Stadium
    6:40p WDMB Senior Recognition
    6:55p WDMB performs Star Spangled Banner
    7:00p Kickoff!
    8:10p Halftime - WDMB Performs
    8:25p Second Half begins (snack time!)
    9:30p Game Ends
    9:35p March back to HS Band Room
    9:45p Dismissed/Parent pickup
Sat. 10/17 – 52nd Annual West Deptford TOB - Full Lineup
    10:00am - Rehearsal Begins
    1:00pm - Rehearsal Ends
    1:30pm - Lunch (provided)
    2:00pm - Show Begins
    6:00pm - Report to Band Room/Dress
    6:30pm - Warmups Begin
    8:30pm - WDHS Performs
    9:00pm - Awards
    9:45pm – Dismissed
Sun. 10/18 - Deptford TOB - Full Lineup
575 Fox Run Road, Deptford, NJ 08096
    8:30am - Rehearsal Begins 
   10:30am - Rehearsal Ends/Load 
   11:00am - Lunch (provided) 
   12:50pm - Depart for Deptford HS 
   1:15pm - Arrive at Deptford HS 
   3:15pm - WDHS Performs 
   4:15pm - Awards 
   5:15pm - Depart for WDHS 
   5:45pm - Arrive at WDHS/unload 
   6:15pm - Dismissed

Seeing the 2026 WDMB in full uniform this week was awesome under the Friday Night Lights! Our ballerinas are absolutely breathtaking! It was great to shine brightly alongside the WD Cheer Squad and see our WD football team grab an amazing win over Haddonfield.

We are certainly continuing to battle through some unfortunate weather patterns, losing another seven hours of rehearsal this past week. Even with the loss of time, the group is really digging in and making the time we do get matter. We are so proud of how the band is developing and growing together. We are ready to shift into the next gear of the season!
​
Gear 1 – Summer Rehearsals/Camps
Gear 2 – School Starts/Football Performances
Gear 3 – Competitions ← WE ARE HERE!
Gear 4 – Championships

Schedule Update: Due to the loss of rehearsal time last week, we've added Thursday rehearsal back to the schedule for this upcoming week. We are so close to having our full production complete! We need this time to lock it all together and roll into the weekend as strong and confident as possible.

Construction Update: This week, the track and surrounding areas are scheduled to be worked on. Please be aware of the possibility of limited access around the stadium area when dropping off and picking up students. In general, we prefer all students to be dropped off near the band room and walk over to the stadium. The "curbside" service is nice, but it does cause some issues. Students should never park in the tennis court area.

THIS IS DEPENDENT ON CONSTRUCTION: If possible, we would like to invite all family and friends to come out this Friday night to see our completed 2026 production! We are planning on rehearsing from 5–8 p.m., then going inside to dress in full uniform before coming back out to perform a full, dressed run-through. This will only happen if we have access to the stadium. We will confirm this on Thursday.

Competition Tickets: Tickets are available for our upcoming shows at Brick Memorial & Madison HS. Only adult tickets are available from Mr. Kershaw. Student/Senior Citizen tickets are available at the gate at the show.
Be sure to purchase your adult tickets from Mr. Kershaw! We keep the proceeds from the adult tickets we sell.
Cash only is accepted for all ticket sales.

Brick Memorial TOB (Saturday, 10/3)
Adult: $15 (Available from Mr. Kershaw)
Students & Senior Citizens: TBD (Available at the Gate)

Madison TOB (Sunday, 10/4)
Adult: $15 (Available from Mr. Kershaw)
Students & Senior Citizens: $10 (Available at the Gate)

Color Guard Shoes: Payment ($40) for color guard shoes is due. Students who ordered shoes should forward payment to Mr. Kershaw. Please make checks payable to "West Deptford High School."

PARENTS! We need YOU at our most important parents' meeting of the year! It's our last meeting before our Home Show, and we need everyone!! Please make every effort to come out Monday, 10/5 at 7:30 p.m. in the WDHS Auditorium. Thank you!!!

Here is this week's schedule.
Monday, 9/28 - Nothing Scheduled
Tuesday, 9/29 - Rehearsal 6pm-9pm
Wednesday, 9/30 - Rehearsal 6pm-9pm
Thursday, 10/1 - Rehearsal 6pm-9pm (added to replace 9/22 & 9/26 cancellations)
Friday, 10/2 - Rehearsal & Possible Preview Performance!?! 5pm-9pm (with shakos!)
Saturday, 10/3 - Brick Memorial TOB - Competition Debut!
    10:30a - Rehearsal Begins
    2:00p - Rehearsal Ends/Load Trucks
    2:30p - Lunch (provided)
    4:00p - Depart for Brick Memorial HS
    5:30p - Arrive at Brick Memorial HS
    8:00p - WDHS Performs
    8:45p - Awards
    9:45p - Depart for WDHS
    11:15p - Arrive at WDHS, unload buses / trucks stay loaded
    11:30p - Dismissed
Sunday 10/4 - Madison TOB (updated 9/22)
    9:00a - Rehearsal Begins
   10:30p - Rehearsal Ends/Load
   11:30p - Depart for Madison HS
   12:40p - Lunch on bus (student provided)
   1:30p - Arrive at Madison HS
   4:00p - WDHS Performs
   4:45p - Awards
   5:45p - Depart for WDHS
   7:45p - Arrive at WDHS/unload
   8:15p - Dismissed

Here is next week's schedule.
Monday, 10/5 - HOME SHOW BAND PARENTS MEETING 7:30pm
Tuesday, 10/6 - Rehearsal 6pm-9pm
Wednesday, 10/7 - Rehearsal 6pm-9pm
Thursday, 10/8 - Nothing Scheduled
Friday, 10/9 - Rehearsal 5pm-9pm (with shakos!)
Saturday, 10/10 - Washington Twp. TOB
    1:30p - Rehearsal Begins
    4:30p - Rehearsal Ends/Load Trucks
    5:00p - Dinner (provided)
    7:00p - Depart for Washington Twp HS
    7:30p - Arrive at Washington Twp HS
    9:30p - WDHS Performs
    10:45p - Awards
    11:45p - Depart for WDHS
    12:15a - Arrive at WDHS, unload buses / trucks stay loaded
    12:45a - Dismissed
Sunday 10/11 - Nothing Scheduled

This past week was a great week of growth as the WDMB works to put the final pieces of its 2026 production on the field. We are so proud of what our students are accomplishing. They are really gaining strength and confidence.

Thank you to the parents who have been coming out to help with our prop (lifesize music box) build. The pit crew helps add the special touches to our performances, and we couldn;t do it without you!

This upcoming week is homecoming week! This includes our homecoming pep rally during the school day and homecoming football game this Friday! We are excited to have the entire ensemble in thier full uniforms this Friday night and get back under the lights with our cheerleaders and football team. We love football, but halftime belongs to the bands, and the WDMB is coming in ready to roll.

Note about full uniform: Musician uniforms will be issued Tuesday. Students will need to take them home, try them on, and report any issues. Musicians should plan to have hair pulled up when wearing their band hats (shakos). We will have rehearsals this week with them. No jewlery should be worn while in full uniform. Musicians should also plan to have light weight, athletic wear for under their uniforms. 

We are a little less than 2 weeks out from our first competitions. 
Brick Memorial TOB - 10/3 & Madison TOB - 10/4
We are excited to take our production of "BALLERINA" into competition. This is where we really shine.

Here is this week's schedule:
Monday, 9/21 - Nothing Scheduled
Tuesday, 9/22 - Rehearsal 6pm-9pm
Wednesday, 9/23 - Rehearsal 6pm-9pm
Thursday, 9/24 - Rehearsal 6pm-9pm (with shakos!)
Friday, 9/25 - Homecoming Football (H) Haddonfield
     5:00pm - Report
     6:30pm - Move to stadium
     6:40pm - Away Team Band - Pregame performance?
     6:55pm - National Anthem
     7:00pm - Game Begins
     8:10pm - WDMB Halftime performance!
     9:30pm - Game ends
     9:45pm – Dismissed​​
Saturday, 9/26 - Rehearsal 9am-1pm
Sunday 9/27 - Nothing Scheduled

Here is our compeititon debut week schedule:
Monday, 9/28 - Nothing Scheduled
Tuesday, 9/29 - Rehearsal 6pm-9pm
Wednesday, 9/30 - Rehearsal 6pm-9pm
Thursday, 10/1 - Nothing Scheduled
Friday, 10/2 - Rehearsal 5pm-9pm (with shakos!)
Saturday, 10/3 - Brick Memorial TOB - Competition Debut!
    10:30a - Rehearsal Begins
    2:00p - Rehearsal Ends/Load Trucks
    2:30p - Lunch (provided)
    4:00p - Depart for Brick Memorial HS
    5:30p - Arrive at Brick Memorial HS
    8:00p - WDHS Performs
    8:45p - Awards
    9:45p - Depart for WDHS
    11:15p - Arrive at WDHS, unload buses / trucks stay loaded
    11:30p - Dismissed
Sunday 10/4 - Madison TOB (updated 9/22)
    9:00a - Rehearsal Begins
   10:30p - Rehearsal Ends/Load
   11:30p - Depart for Madison HS
   12:40p - Lunch on bus (student provided)
   1:30p - Arrive at Madison HS
   4:00p - WDHS Performs
   4:45p - Awards
   5:45p - Depart for WDHS
   7:45p - Arrive at WDHS/unload
   8:15p - Dismissed