Come see the BHS marching band and colorguard perform their 2025 halftime show, “The World Turned Upside Down”: music from Hamilton. Performed at all BHS varsity home games, the ten minute show consists of 4 movements of drill written by Elliot Frank, and features the following songs: Alexander Hamilton, The World Turned Upside Down, Dear Theodosia, The Schyler Sisters, Non-Stop, and History Has Its Eyes On You. The marching season has consisted of long, tedious rehearsals and hard work, so showing your support means a lot!

The band, consisting of 74 members, is led by Drum Majors Naomi Akirav, Phaedra Brown, and Aly Meyers, under the direction of Matthew Bruneau and Assistant Band Director Tom Salyers. 

ABOUT THE SHOW:

The critically acclaimed musical, Hamilton by Lin Manuel Miranda covers the life of Alexander Hamilton, the first secretary of the Treasury Department, and his role in the American Revolution. The music is heavily inspired by R&B, hiphop, and the blues with catchy, historically accurate lyrics. The inspiration from primarily Black American music represents the many diverse cultures of the United States, particularly celebrating Black American culture. The musical serves as a statement of equality and unity, and has been globally recognized for its powerful themes. 

AS A MARCHING SHOW:

The musical translates well to a marching show, keeping the powerful, entertaining nature of the musical while also taking creative liberties with Miranda’s recognizable compositions(all arrangements by Jeff Chambers except movement 3). The opener, “Alexander Hamilton,” is a short and sweet, memorable start to the performance. The movement ends with the band standing in the shape of a star, the iconic album cover of the musical. 

The second movement “The World Turned Upside Down” displays the talent of the drumline, as the wind players perform captivating drill during the drum break, followed by a woodwind soli. A brass trio of Tabitha Brown (Trombone), Lillian Clark (Trombone), and Noka Nordstrom (Mellophone), lead into the melody of “The World Turned Upside Down,” ending the movement with the big, compelling sound of the entire band. 

The third movement, arranged by Matthew Bruneau, is transcribed almost directly out of the musical, making it the most accurate to the Broadway show and the most dynamic of the movements. The woodwind intro of “Dear Theodosia” with solos by Advika Govindradu (Flute) and Jenny Yu (Clarinet) capture the delicacy and softness of the duet between Aaron Burr, played by Leslie Odom Jr., and Alexander Hamilton, played by Lin Manuel Miranda. The ballad is followed by an energetic drum break leading into “The Schyler Sisters,” the drill reflects the iconic scene in the musical which depicts the liveliness of New York City during the American revolution. 

The fourth and final movement is the most meaningful and my personal favorite of the show, featuring “Non-Stop” and “History Has its Eyes on You.” This movement is a powerful end to the show, really reflecting the spirit of the musical. 

All Hamilton lovers should go see the show!!! The hard work and passion of the band will leave you stunned!