Still Marching on, the Patriot Pioneers Begin Their Second Season

For their second season, the Patriot Pioneers will kick off the school year with a bang of a drum.

Starting as early as Aug. the band and its 100 musicians started their season with a weeklong band camp that lasted from 8 a.m. until 9 p.m.

“These long hours help instill discipline, team camaraderie and purpose in the students," said Band Director David Van Gelder.

Van Gelder is highly decorated director who led his two Prince William high school bands earn superior ratings and recognition as a Virginia Honors Band from the Virginia Band and Orchestra Directors Association (VBODA), which assesses state high school bands in two competitions throughout the year.

Van Gelder was in his seventh year directing band at Potomac High Schools in Dumfries in 2010. When he learned that the new high school would be opening in Nokesville in 2011, he was eager to apply for that position.

“I saw the opportunity to completely build the program from the ground up and develop that marching band culture to incoming students," Van Gelder said.

With professional-level instruction from their director and the ambition of the Patriot band members, this year’s season is looking promising for the Marching Pioneers.

After taking first place in the categories of marching and color guard at their very first marching competition last year, the students at Patriot look forward to continue making Patriot Marching band history. As they perform half time shows at football games at home and away, they are keeping their eyes on the grand prize: a superior rating at marching band assessment in Oct.

This year the band will have the home field advantage in that Patriot will host the state assessment for all bands in Northeastern Virginia. Although marching bands do not compete against each other per se, but for a superior rating, bands can be very competitive. And Patriot band members are happy to show off their school spirit,  musicianship and new moves at the competition.

They also hope to have the support of their community, and thus, Van Gelder invites Patriot fans to come support the team on October 27, as they compete for a state title.

Along with competing at state, the Patriot band will also perform at the Disney World Marching Band Invitational during Spring Break. But before they can get there, they will need community support in raising money for their trip.

On September 8, the band members expect to be decked out in their full uniforms, going door to door in their annual “Tag Day” fundraiser, asking for kind donations that will help with their Disney trip.

The Patriot High School Marching Band will debut this fall performing at the halftime shows at the first Patriot football game this Friday, August 31 at the Patriot field. The game starts at 7:30 p.m.

Van Gelder and Patriot High School encourage everyone to come out and watch these dedicated musicians entertain you with their new music and stylish moves.