Report By: Logan Kennedy

As the summer comes to a close, Whiteville High School’s Wolfpack Marching Band eagerly gears up for the 2023-2024 school year at their 2-week band camp. Guided by band director Allister Sontag, students practice everything from fundamentals, marches, and popular stadium themes.

Check out our interview with Sontag at the bottom of this article!

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Gallery:

Photos by: Thomas Green

We asked Sontag about what the 2023-2024 school year will look like for the band:

How big is the marching band projected to be this year?

“We will have about 65 in band this year. A few bigger than last year.”

How can parents and community members help support the band?

“Our first Band Booster Meeting of the year is Tuesday, August 8th at 6:30pm in the WHS band Room. We will have a virtual option for anyone unable to attend in person. We have not had Band Booster officers in a few years. We are looking for parents or community members to take on those officer positions. Mr. Crumpler has been working with the band in the concession stands for more than 30 years. He and I have been managing the Band Boosters without officers for the past year.
Anyone looking to support the Whiteville High School Band could sign up to volunteer in either the Football of Basketball concession stands. The Google Form to sign up as a concession volunteer is located on the WHS Band Website which can be found under quick links on the main WHS website. The money raised by our volunteers in the concession stands goes directly to the band program. In the past year, these efforts have allowed us to purchase several new instruments, sheet music, feed the band, update the concession POS system, and compensate instructors to work with our students. The concession stands are currently our largest fundraising source. The band is planning on selling fruit again this October and November.”

Sontag also said that officers are needed for the band boosters program.

Goals for 2023-2024?

“Our goal this season is to make our return to the competition field. We took a few years off from competing during the pandemic and construction of our new building, but the students are excited to get back into it. We finally have our practice field back and a brand new classroom. We plan on attending competitions at South View HS, South Columbus HS, and Midway HS in October. Things are moving in a good direction and I am very excited for the community to see what these students are capable of.”