Governor Dukakis to Honor Norwood High School Mustang Band for Fifth Consecutive State Title-October 24, 1978

Fifth Consecutive State Marching Band Championship Earns State House Recognition

Following their triumphant victory at the annual state high school marching band competition in Lowell last Sunday, the Norwood High School Mustang Band has caught the attention of the commonwealth’s highest office. School Music Director Paul M. Alberta announced yesterday that he received a direct call from the governor’s office confirming that Governor Michael S. Dukakis has scheduled a special meeting at 11:00 a.m. on November 7 at the State House to personally present official citations to Alberta and the band.

Performing before a crowd of 7,500 spectators at Lowell’s Cawley Field, the 180-member Mustang Band captured first place in the larger-school Class A division with an astonishing score of 125.9 out of a possible 134 points. South Hadley High finished second with 110 points, followed by Silver Lake Regional with 107 in a competitive field of 20 marching bands sponsored by the Massachusetts Instrumental Conductors Association.

The victory marks an unprecedented fifth consecutive state title for Norwood—a streak unbroken in the six-year history of the competition, save for the inaugural year. Prior to their Lowell triumph, the band also secured second place overall at the Billerica marching competition the previous Saturday, where the percussion section took home first place in its category.

Repertoire, Celebrations, and Upcoming Navy and Gold Uniforms

Sunday’s award-winning performance featured a dynamic musical repertoire including the “Bottle Dance” from Fiddler on the Roof, the popular standard “What I Did For Love,” and the band’s signature classic, the William Tell Overture. Upon returning to Norwood Sunday evening, the elated musicians were greeted by a packed parking lot of cheering parents before celebrating over dinner at the Honolulu Restaurant on Route 1.

Addressing logistical updates, Alberta noted that the band is not yet wearing the new uniforms authorized by town meeting last June through a $37,500 appropriation. To ensure optimal design quality, an ad hoc committee of parents, students, and faculty was formed to select the new look. The chosen design—featuring navy blue outfits, gold shirts, and navy and gold neckerchiefs that eliminate the traditional light blue trousers—is currently being manufactured as a prototype before going out to public bid, with delivery anticipated by early February.

Addressing past public debates over allocating funds for uniforms while academic budgets faced reductions, Alberta defended the expenditure: “We were extremely straightforward in our needs. I think the town recognized our uniforms were falling apart. We needed the help and the town responded… Whether music, athletics or academic subjects, I think the town values all the education it has.”

Archival Note: This article has been dynamically reconstructed from the original public record print archives of the Patriot Ledger