Crowd energizes marching bands at Columbus Day Parade

BINGHAMTON — If any members of Vestal High School's marching band were nervous, minutes before facings the crowds of parade-goers downtown Monday morning, it didn't show.

"Everyone has to be relaxed, calm and focused," said Vestal's drum major, Brianna Cordi, 16. "It's really cool, because you get to see people from around the community, they're cheering as we're marching through."

Hundreds of spectators lined the sidewalks, cameras and smartphones held aloft to capture the students' performances Monday morning during the annual Mirabito Columbus Day Tournament of Bands Parade.

The parade is not just a treat for the community — it also serves as a competition for area high school bands, color guards and drum majors in three different classes. It is sanctioned by the New York Federation of Contest Judges for Marching Bands.

This year's participating bands were from Binghamton, Johnson City, Vestal, Union-Endicott, Whitney Point, Williamson, Deposit, Northeast Bradford, and Mexico Middle School.

At the end of the nearly two-hour procession — which also featured local elected officials and community groups — Johnson City emerged with a first-place award in its marching band category.

Union-Endicott picked up second place, and Vestal took home a third-place trophy.

"Taking the energy from the crowd and being able to transfer it into music is amazing," said Jorden Link, 16, Johnson City's junior drum major.

Some spectators showed up more than an hour before the parade's 10 a.m. start. Among them was Maura Nolan, whose 16-year-old son, D.J. Hendricks, marched in Johnson City's school band. She described the parade as an exciting opportunity for every student who marches, and for their parents.

"It's a huge self-esteem booster for the kids," she said. "The band is like a family, they spend so much time together, and today they get to see the results of their hard work."

This was the parade's 56th year; it doubled as both music spectacle and post-show block party with the Italian Festival on Water Street and more live music from local band Splash.

The Italian Festival is an homage to the holiday's namesake, Christopher Columbus, the Genoese explorer whose four voyages across the Atlantic Ocean laid the groundwork for Spanish colonization of the New World.

After the parade, visitors lined up outside tents for meatball subs, sausage and peppers, gnocchi, cannoli and more served by members of St. Mary's of the Assumption Parish, the Abruzzese Club and the Sons of Italy.

"It's a chance for people that haven't seen each other for a year or so to get together; it's about camaraderie, " said Joe Leombrone, a Binghamton resident and the parade's master of ceremonies.

During the procession, it was his duty to announce each band and parade participant as they arrived downtown outside Boscov's.

After the marching was over, Leombrone said he could tell from his place on the stage that some kids looked more nervous than others as they marched toward the two competition judges. But one aspect, he said, remains a constant.

"These kids have pride," he said. "That's what makes me watch the parade every year."

Follow Anthony Borrelli on Twitter @PSBABorrelli