Work at summer band camp pays off at halftime of Buffalos' opening home game

The Pride of the Buffalos Marching Band and color guard performing during halftime during the Prairie View - Wellsville game on Friday, Sept. 11. (Photos by Billy Roudybush except where noted)

Journal staff report

Last Friday night, Sept. 11, was the premier performance by this year’s Pride of the Buffalos Marching Band during the halftime of the home football game against the Wellsville Eagles.

During that performance the band members unveiled two of their new songs; their new drum major, junior Aleena Miller; and their new uniforms. The band also recognized and honored the brave men and women in uniform who served following the devastating attack on the Twin Towers and the Pentagon on Sept. 11, 2001, with a musical tribute. 

Songs included the “National Emblem March,” and “The Ballad of the Green Beret,” during which the band formed the letters “USA” on the marching field.

The Prairie View band performs one of its two new pieces during halftime.

While school has been in session only a month, preparation for the band’s Friday performance actually began over the summer when band members attended a band camp. The camp included rigorous practicing, extensive memorization of both music and marching, and lessons of leadership and responsibilities with clinician Patrick Matarazzo, according to Prairie View band director and music teacher Jeffery Russell. 

Members of the PVHS color guard prepare for the start of the game. The color guard performs under the direction of Jenny Trumbly.

“Patrick Matarazzo is the band director at Allen County Community College in Iola,” Russell said. “After attending a Prairie View High School football game and watching the band perform their halftime show, Patrick was impressed by the band’s commitment and discipline and was asked to be the clinician for the 2026 bands camp.” 

Matarazzo made a great first impression even before the camp started, Russell said. 

“Prior to the camp, he met with the band’s section leaders to describe his goals with the band and what he planned to teach,” the director said. “The slideshow he presented showed how leadership can be expressed in a multitude of ways and is not always a stern correcting. Patrick, over the course of a week, worked his magic and created new leaders within the band and elevated the existing ones.”

Patrick Matarazzo, band director at Allen County Community College and PVHS band director Jeffrey Russell are architects of the marching band's halftime show.

The band members rehearsed their new show, called “Jukebox Road Trip,” rigorously over the course of the week, practicing four hours a day.

“The band rehearsed inside and outside on their music,“ Russell said. “Four songs, four marching drills, and four drum cadences were memorized within a short timeframe despite the humid and hot days.”

In the face of wilting heat, however, the band’s determination never wavered to learn with the guidance of both Matarazzo and Russell.

Drum major Aleena Miller, a junior, led the band in the Parker Day parade on Saturday, Sept. 19.

Prairie View's Pride of the Buffalos Marching band and color guard will be performing at home games and local parades throughout the fall. (Prairie View High School)

The band and color guard members include;

Rhett Pope Landon Schull

Ethan Holler Christopher Sramek

Abigil Alvarez Nathaniel Herring

Erick Grove Mary Ryan

Solomon Law Trinity Post

Payton Marmon Gunner Buckley

Wilbur Alvarez Kora Stainbrook

Michel Huff Christian Raphael-Martin

Luke Moore Braden Shrum

Dawson Moore Elijah Egidy

William Egidy Joseph Pribble

William Burton Jercey VanDyke

Riley Hightower Emilia Jordan

June Ratcliff Aleena Miller

Waylon Stainbrook Savanna Elmore

Brilee Shrum Malia Buchholz

Callen Mowery Faith Campbell

Lily Michelle Mallory Cline

Lillie Rudder Mia Attebey

Natalee Ferguson Bethany Nodule