The Edison Marching Band has concluded another successful season with podium finishes at both national and state championships. On November 8, 2025, the band performed at MetLife Stadium. With their last performance of the season, they secured a third-place finish at the USBands National Championships with a score of 94.25.

“We were really committed and hardworking this season, and we were all just looking to put our best effort and our best product out on the field. We really wanted to make this year one to remember,” said Tiah Mehta ‘29, bass clarinet player.

Edison’s 2025 production, titled “Coven,” follows the band as they make their way through a coven of witches. It mixes classical music such as “Danse Macabre” (Camille Saint-Saëns) with modern popular music, including “The End” (My Chemical Romance), “The Way” (Fastball), “Abracadabra” (Lady Gaga), and “Die With a Smile” (Bruno Mars and Lady Gaga). The show immerses the audience with prop trees, a central cauldron, and sharp visuals that match seamlessly with its fitting musical mix.

The season has been a mix of struggle and perseverance, starting off with a successful band camp and with strong performances at competitions in Edison, South Brunswick, and against J.P. Stevens early on. In the final few weeks of the season, Edison’s performances improved dramatically, with exceptional performances at the New Jersey Marching Band Director’s Association (NJMBDA) State Championships and USBands National Championships.

“Our season had a lot of ups and downs,” said Mr. Marc Denicuolo, band director. “ For me the most memorable moment was when we met together right after our performance at State Championships at The College of New Jersey (TCNJ). We had been focusing on consistency, and that performance was the first time it really locked in for a performance. Following the performance, when we talked about how the performance went, there was a real energy in the group. That energy continued through the rest of our season.”

Denicuolo was not the only one who witnessed this season’s progress; students felt that same momentum as they learned what it took to truly build a successful show.

“My expectation was that when we went to our first performance, we would know the entire show perfectly, as that is all I saw of marching bands online,” said Aaren Agrawal ‘29, synth player. “However, when I joined, I realized how much work had to be done to create the perfect show for states and nationals.”

That unexpected amount of work and those early challenges ultimately fueled the EHS Marching Eagles’ determination, transforming setbacks into the primary motivation fueling their eventual success.

“I think our success was largely because of our determination to win. We definitely had some hard times and losses throughout the season, but I think that just motivated us more and led us to succeed in the end,” said Rithika Gunasekaran ‘27, marimba player.

The satisfaction of walking off the field after a successful performance, knowing you left everything on the field, is valuable for many students.

Agrawal remarked, “My proudest moment was going off the field at MetLife knowing that I performed to my best capabilities and feeling fulfilled.”

That pride was shared during other key moments during the season, too.

“My most memorable moment this past season was our NJMBDA State Championships performance. We had a great run of our show, and the energy throughout the band while walking off the field and right after was electric,” expressed Mehta.

For many students, marching band is not just an activity, but a family.

Drum Major Feihao “Ryan” Li ‘26 experienced this transformation personally.

“Marching band changed me personally because it made me more outgoing. Freshman year, I didn’t talk to many people, and I was scared of talking to people, but as time went on, the marching band’s community was able to change how I act around others, and therefore made me more confident, and so I talked to more people,” said Li.

Members also felt this bond even within their first year marching as freshmen.

“I think I expected to not enjoy it as much as I did. I thought it was just a lot of hard work, playing my instrument, and marching. Although we did that, so much time was spent growing bonds with the rest of the group,” said Mehta. I’ve become friends with people I would’ve never talked to before. Overall, this season surpassed any expectations I had.”

With a mix of hard work, creativity, and teamwork, the Edison Marching Eagles closed the 2025 season with a performance emphasizing growth and skill. For the students, this season didn’t just end with medals, but with memories, friendships, and pride that will carry on into seasons to come.