Idols of march

They are a group of 102 students. They range in age from 14 to 18, from freshmen to seniors. They come in different shapes, colors and sizes from Lakeview, Lynbrook and Malverne — all within the Malverne Union Free School District. They all attend classes and participate in extra-curricular programs. They play instruments, practice at home and after school, rehearse on weekends and perform around town. They are the Pride of Malverne, Malverne High School’s aptly named marching band.

“It’s a tremendous team,” said schools Superintendent Dr. James Hunderfund. “They have great professionals and teachers who combined to inspire the children.”

Among those professionals is band Director Erin Lynch, who helped the Pride take the title at the state Marching Band Championships in Syracuse on Oct. 31, closing the season undefeated.

“We had a really successful season,” Lynch said, “and I think we all had a good feeling about winning [the state title], but you never know until you get there: you don’t know what the show’s going to be like or what your competition’s going to do that day.”

This was the second time in four years that Malverne placed first in the Small School Conference III state-wide competition. It took first place in 2006, fourth place in 2007 and 2008, and second place last year.

Lynch said the band has improved and continues to improve every year. It has come a long way throughout the three years she’s directed it, and even longer since she herself was a member of the band — playing the flute and piccolo — before graduating Malverne High School in 2003. The state championship win, she added, was the result of hard work, commitment and constant practice.

“I feel like the students, particularly this year, were very dedicated and very passionate about marching band and they really stepped up the level of skill and achievement this year,” Lynch recently told the Herald. “And I think it shows that we can step things up even more for next year, going up against maybe harder competition.”