As the music from drum lines across the state fades, Rocco Marzilli hopes to revitalize the marching band off-season by encouraging collaboration among young percussionists from all around Southern Maine.
Under the direction of Marzilli, an indoor percussion ensemble made up of students from Old Orchard Beach, South Portland, Marshwood and Westbrook, and from the University of Southern Maine.
Coastal Tech Percussion, as the group is called, is composed of musicians up to the age of 21 who will compete in a circuit under the New England Scholastic Band Association. The circuit plays host to a number of independent groups and high schools across New England, but currently doesn’t host any groups from the state of Maine, making the Coastal Tech ensemble the state’s sole representative.
Biddeford High School senior Mackenzie Toussaint, now a member of the Old Orchard Beach marching band’s drum line, said she was first approached by Marzilli, her percussion instructor in Old Orchard Beach, about creating a percussion group to represent the state of Maine. Toussaint and her “drum line family” decided to go forward and continue strengthening the bond formed between the Biddeford and Old Orchard Beach marchers.
“It was easy. The drum line goes we all go,” said Toussaint. “We’re one big family and we became a big part of Rocco.”
Toussaint marched with the Biddeford marching band until its dissolution last year, the Biddeford drum line was then accepted into the Old Orchard Beach band, and now Toussaint will be a part of her third drum line in just two years. While she said the adjustments are difficult, Toussaint is excited to play alongside even more musicians.
“I’m really happy that my family is getting bigger,” Toussaint
Beyond the new faces, the scale of the competition is bigger as well, representing not only their schools, but the state. According to Toussaint the group will be able to truly showcase their abilities and passion for the music, while perhaps sending a message to Biddeford High School.
“It’ll show that (even though) they cut our marching band, we don’t care,” said Toussaint. “But maybe people will start realizing that we do need (the marching band) back.”
Eric Landau, a senior in South Portland’s high school marching band, will be joining Toussaint and Marzilli, following his South Portland instructor (and Rocco Marzilli’s brother) Ross Marzilli, to the group. Having marched in the South Portland drum line since his 8th grade year, Landau said he now plans to continue pursuing his passion for music through the Coastal Tech ensemble.
“On (the Coastal Tech) flier and the page, it says ”˜Coastal Tech Percussion: Putting Maine on the Map,’” said Landau. “It’ll be cool to be representing Maine.”
According to Landau, there’s stiff competition in Massachusetts and although they won’t be competing against elite schools, such as Dartmouth, he looks forward to being “right up there with the competition.”
Marzilli, a South Portland graduate in 2005, has been teaching the OOB drum line and writing music for the marching band for six years and helped welcome Biddeford musicians into his seven-man line.
After a number of his musician’s parents approached him asking how their kids could continue marching throughout school’s off season, Marzilli said he found few opportunities outside of Massachusetts groups, so decided to form a Maine indoor ensemble with three other instructors from around Southern Maine.
“But the biggest thing is parents,” Marzilli said.
He cites the musicians’ parents as being his biggest support, getting the group a rehearsal spot at the Biddeford Middle School, keeping on top of organization, and even finding their sponsorship with Biddeford’s Coastal Tech Heating.
The group will begin rehearsing in January to prepare their show titled, “American Faces, A Salute to the Troops.” The performance will feature the musicians dressed in military fatigues with the letters “U.S.A.” splayed across their backs while playing David Holsinger’s “American Faces.” Marzilli, expects their patriotic theme and representation of the state to bring about a focus on how the ensemble represents itself.
“I’m lucky really happy to have some of the better, more mature musicians in the state to work with them,” said Marzilli. “And to play at a higher level than they do at their high schools and really teach them how to grow up and carry themselves.”
The ensemble will hold an open house on Nov. 16 from 5-8 p.m. at the BHS band room and the group hopes to begin performing at local exhibitions early next year and enter in their first NESBA competition in mid-March.
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