Norwood and Westwood Marching Bands Shine at Regional Invitational—October 12, 1987

Win or lose, it is a cherished tradition for the Norwood High School marching band and its supporters to gather at the Kahana restaurant in Walpole following major competitions. Last night, nearly 100 people crammed into the restaurant to celebrate a massive first-place victory.

Co-hosted by Norwood and Westwood high schools, the Norwood-Westwood Classic Invitational II brought together nine competing bands under the umbrella of the New England Scholastic Band Association.

Norwood Takes Division 1 Triumph

Norwood captured first place in Division 1, earning a silver medal and posting the highest overall score among bands with 47 to 69 members, tallying 77 out of 100 points.

“Tonight was the greatest crowd I’ve seen there in a long time,” said Donald Fox, a member of the Norwood Parents Music Association. “Even alumni of the band came back to celebrate.”

Music Director Paul M. Alberta expressed immense pride in the ensemble’s early-season execution: “I am very happy, they just did a marvelous job. We have never been this far along this early in the competition season in my 21 years.”

Norwood performed “Threshold” and “On the Sixth Day,” both composed by Pat Williams. Judges praised the high skill level required for the complex musical pieces and intricate drill maneuvers, labeling the performance “exceptional.”

Westwood Secures Division 2 Honors

Co-host Westwood High School also claimed top honors in Division 2, capturing a bronze medal with a medley of Tchaikovsky pieces, “Rhapsody in Blue,” and an original arrangement titled “Paradox” by Music Director James Giurleo.

Assistant Band Director Don Richard noted that the judges’ focus on musical nuances demonstrated that the band had smoothed out its early-season rough spots. “This week, we’re together, and now we’re ready to perfect it all,” Giurleo added.

Competition Standouts and Medalists

• Division 1 Results: Norwood placed first with 77 points. Dedham finished second with 72 points, and Oliver Ames High School took third with 46 points.
• Silver Medalists: Dartmouth High School, Dedham High School, and Webster High School (from Webster, N.Y.).
• Bronze Medalists: East Syracuse Minoa Central School, Bishop Feehan High School, and Oliver Ames High School.
• Note: No gold medals were awarded at the competition.

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