Norwood Parents Music Association: The Dedicated Power Base Behind the High School Band-October 11, 1991

As the fall marching band season kicks into high gear, Joann Pasquantonio is bracing herself for a grueling schedule of long days. There will be days when she boards a school bus at 4:00 p.m. and doesn’t return home until midnight, utterly exhausted after hours of competitions.

The catch? Pasquantonio isn’t in the band. She is something even more vital—a dedicated member of the Norwood Parents Music Association.

While typical parent involvement might mean attending the occasional dance recital or football game, the band parents in Norwood go above and beyond, doing everything short of performing right alongside their children.

Much More Than a PTA

The 40-member association functions as a powerhouse of support, taking on tasks ranging from sewing intricate costumes and planning major band trips to organizing a summer band camp and throwing spirited pep rallies before big competitions. They raise thousands of dollars each year through creative fundraisers like haircut-a-thons, light bulb sales, and bustling Las Vegas nights.

“I’ve been in PTAs before and this is much more than a PTA,” said Pasquantonio, who serves as the group’s treasurer. “It takes over, it gets in your blood.”

When Norwood hosts a regional marching band competition this Sunday, the entire association will be working in high gear:

• Joann Pasquantonio and her husband will spend hours overseeing ticket sales, raffles, and venue security.
• Carolyn Thompson will manage student uniform fittings, assist with frantic costume changes, and stand ready with safety pins.
• Her husband, David, will anchor the “pit crew,” utilizing a tractor and wagon to haul heavy, cumbersome instruments like drums and xylophones onto the field.

“I’ve seen other parent groups in other towns, but nothing encompasses everything that we do,” said town music director Paul Alberta. “This group is just tremendous. They’re our power base.”

A Labor of Love and a Close-Knit Social Club

For members who devote their spare hours and weekends to the program, it often feels like an unpaid part-time job—albeit one they deeply cherish.

“It’s a horrendous time commitment, but I absolutely love it,” said Janice O’Riley, who serves as co-secretary alongside her husband, John. “I can’t think of a better way to spend my free time.”

Over the years, the Parents Music Association has evolved far beyond student support, blossoming into a tight-knit social club for the adults. Members regularly embark on golf outings, weekend getaways to Cape Cod, and charter a bus about six times a year for dinner and a show in East Boston.

“We’re a very close-knit group,” noted Julie Dauphinee, who co-presides over the association with her husband, Dick. “You work so hard with each other so much, you form some nice friendships.” Through the group, Dauphinee even rekindled a childhood friendship with Janice O’Riley—her classmate from Norwood High School’s Class of 1966—whose sons now march side-by-side in the band.

Financial Support and Political Clout

Director Paul Alberta is well aware of the pitfalls of the “Little League syndrome,” where hyper-involved parents can occasionally overstep and pressure children to win. However, he noted that the Norwood association maintains a healthy boundary: “It’s made pretty clear the PMA is there to support the director of music.”

Beyond raising $10,000 last year, the association provides the music program with invaluable political insulation. In tight fiscal times when school budgets face severe chopping blocks, Norwood’s music department has remained entirely untouched, a feat Alberta credits directly to the parents’ advocacy.

“If you have a visible program and the parents are supporting that in every way, it becomes very difficult for anyone in their right mind to cut such a positive program,” Alberta said. “The PMA is our influence in the community.”

Parents point to Alberta’s infectious enthusiasm as the spark that draws them in. “It’s a chain reaction,” observed Carolyn Thompson. “The parents get involved and see the wonderful things the kids are doing and they want to help more.”

Upcoming Event: The Norwood-King Phillip Marching Band Classic

• Date: Sunday (October 13, 1991)
• Time: 1:00 p.m.
• Location: Norwood High School
• Details: Ten area marching bands are scheduled to compete in the regional showcase.

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