Pittsburgh Public Schools’ bands are making a comeback…’One Band, One Sound’ experience lit the flame

CALL THEM “ONE BAND, ONE SOUND,” OR THE PITTSBURGH ALL CITY HIGH SCHOOLS MARCHING BAND…EITHER WAY, THE STUDENTS MADE A BIG IMPACT IN WASHINGTON, D.C., AND CONTINUE TO DO SO IN PITTSBURGH TODAY. On a rainy Memorial Day Monday, May 29, 2023, high school student bands came from everywhere to perform in the National Memorial Day Parade in Washington, D.C. They came from places like Kaysville, Utah; Raleigh, N.C.; Santa Clarita, Calif.; Deland, Fla… …And Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Not to be left out, roughly 70 students in grades 7-12, along with about 10 chaperones and band directors, traveled from Pittsburgh to D.C. to represent the city and Pittsburgh Public Schools, proudly marching in the parade in front of tens of thousands down Constitution Avenue. And, as it turns out, that valiant act has lit a spark into marching bands throughout the city, and it has more parents thinking about marching band as an activity for their current or future high school students.& “It teaches you discipline,” said Aisha Sharif-Lucas, the longtime band director for Pittsburgh Obama Academy, in East Liberty, about being in a band. Sharif-Lucas said marching band also teaches students collaboration, teamwork, musicianship and perseverance. & SOME OF THE...