Walt Whitman Marching Band Makes History with First-Ever NYSFBC Championship Title
The Walt Whitman High School Wildcat Marching Band are New York State Champions! It was a historic milestone for Whitman’s band program this past weekend (10/31 and 11/1) when they captured first place at the New York State Field Band Conference (NYSFBC) Championships at Syracuse University’s JMA Wireless Dome in the Large School 3 division. The win came with the ensemble's highest score of the 2026 competitive season at 80.75. This victory marks the first time in school history that the Wildcats have earned the title of NYSFBC Champions, after the band placed third in 2021, and fifth in 2022.
"I am extremely proud of our band students for their historic win," said band co-director Shannon Ganci. "After all the hard work and dedication put in this season from our students and staff, it is a well-deserved victory for our community. Our band members fully bought into the theme of our show and performed their music and visuals with absolute confidence at the Dome. The kids are totally pumped up and this continues to contribute to the positive cultural shift of our program over the past few years. I hope the success of this season shows future Stimson and Whitman students that they too can join our band family. Eyes with pride!”
It’s a victory the entire school community can share in because of the year-round support the band receives through car washes, bake sales, candy sales, plant sales, barbecues, special showcases, and band merchandise sales - all arranged and run by the Band Parent Association (BPA).
“Bringing gold home to this community, the very place that gave me the chance to grow into the educator I am today, is an incredible feeling,” said band co-director Joseph Vetack. “Seeing how much our program has evolved since I first started teaching here makes this moment incredibly special. Guiding these students through a new chapter and watching them grow into confident performers has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my career.”
Although the competitive season begins in September, band preparation starts months earlier in the spring when the band directors reveal the show they have chosen for competition. The different band sections begin working on the music so when they get to the field during summer Band Camp in August and start learning drill - which is the visual design and choreography of the entire ensemble moving together - they already know the music well.
This year’s performance, “Elemental,” explores the natural world through four movements. The show opens with "Mother Earth," establishing a steady, powerful presence and sound. It transitions into "Water," changing the mood with fluid movements from band members and the Color Guard along with lighter musical textures.
Then in comes "Wind," with a faster pace and continuous momentum across the field. The performance concludes with "Fire," building to a high-energy finale focused on intensity with a strong drumline and fast-paced movements from musicians and Color Guard.
Each change of “element” was highlighted by a change of props on the field and the silks on the Color Guard flags. Guard members used standard flag, rifle, and sabre work to mirror the mood of each section - low and slow flag spins during the quieter movements, and quick rifle catches, high tosses, and sharp sabre spins to match the intensity of the faster tempos.
Mr. Vetack said this year was a shift for the band because they moved from the more traditional story-based show to a concept-based performance. “They connected to it completely. Beyond mastering a more different style of show, they had to learn to believe in themselves, their abilities, and each other…The district has been aiming for this title for a very long time, and while I’m proud to bring the cup home, I hope this is just the beginning of a long line of successful seasons,” said Vetack.
Walt Whitman Principal Dr. John Murphy was in Syracuse not only to cheer on the marching band, but to also help band parents move equipment on and off the field. “It was exciting to watch how perfect their performance was, how great the music was, and how all their months of hard work, including the work of the band parents, the directors and their staff, all came together in that special 10 minutes and worked out perfectly. They did such a great job,” said Murphy.
The marching band program dates back to the district's earliest days in the 1940s, before Walt Whitman High School was built in 1955 and students attended what was then South Huntington High School.
The NYSFBC governs high school marching band competitions across New York State. The annual championship event brings together student ensembles from across the region to perform before field judges and audiences in Syracuse.
Mr. Vetack expressed the band’s deep gratitude to the support network behind the scenes: “This season would not have been possible without the tireless dedication of our staff, who worked alongside Ms. Ganci and me to give these students the tools and confidence to succeed. We are equally grateful to our band parents, who load trailers, feed the kids, manage hotel bookings, and handle endless details behind the scenes to make what we do possible. Finally, I want to recognize our administration and school board, whether providing financial backing or cheering in the stands at competitions, their constant support means the world to us.”
Congratulations, Wildcats! Eyes With Pride!
See more photos courtesy of the WWHS BPA here.
The Whitman Marching Band performed their show “Elemental” while going up against bands from across the state under the JMA Wireless Dome at Syracuse University.
This victory marks the first time in school history that the Wildcats have earned the title of NYSFBC Champions.
Whitman proudly accepted their first place title!
Walt Whitman was top of the leaderboard with 80.750 points in the state competition.
Congratulations to the Walt Whitman High School Wildcat Marching Band!!