City Hill Students to Play During Thunder in the Valley Competition

A group of City Hill Middle School students will be playing alongside Naugatuck High School’s marching band this weekend during the Thunder in the Valley competition.

Held on the Naugatuck High School grounds, the competition attracts bands from throughout the state. Kathy Dravis, the middle school band director, said 30 middle school students will be playing the Star Spangled Banner at the beginning and America the Beautiful later in the event, with their high school counterparts.

It’s been a few years since the middle school students have played in the competition, said Robert Hughes, the high school band director.

“Were trying to bring it back, and make sure the middle school students get a chance to play,” he said.

The event also gives the students an opportunity to see what it is like playing at the high school level. Hughes said there’s always attrition when middle school students move to high school,

“I’d like to encourage everybody that can to come and check out the program see what it has to offer,” he said.

The competition starts at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 24, on the high school grounds. Because of the home field advantage, Naugatuck isn’t actually participating in the competition, Hughes said.

General admission is $10 and $7 for students, seniors and children, he said.

Click here to read a full piece on the event from The Citizen's News.