The Cranston East Thunderbolt band made a triumphant return to the US Bands Massachusetts/Rhode Island State Championships this past weekend. The band, under the direction of Greg Arsenault, placed first in Regional A Group II with a score of 89.100.

The Oct. 26 competition marked the first time since 2019 that the Thunderbolt band participated. They traveled to Stoughton High School in Massachusetts.

“We were very happy with our performance and the result Saturday night,” said Greg Arsenault, marching band director. “It is motivational for the students to know that they performed very well and that their hard work is noted and appreciated by the fans and adjudicators.”

Their winning selection was titled “The Music of Queen.” Chosen by the students last spring, the song selection included, “Another One Bites the Dust,” “We Will Rock You,” and “Bohemian Rhapsody.”

His biggest piece of advice to motivate the group (for each performance) is to “do your job and have fun.”

Arsenault, who has been involved with the marching band for 30 years and teaching at East for 22 years, recognized the need for creating a program that was more relaxed and inclusive for students who are looking to explore band without the high-stakes pressure of competing as an elite group.

“Kids who also want to do sports, and are involved in a lot of extracurricular activities, can still be a member of the marching band; [they] don’t have to cut out other things in order to do as much rehearsal as being a higher level,” Arsenault said.

Coming off what Arsenault described as a “very successful season,” the students continue to work hard and practice even harder to make sure their performances are the best they can be.

“The whole season is a process, and the competition is a step in the process,” Arsenault said.

This year’s band has about 47 members. Twelve will be graduating this spring. 

With all the seniors getting ready for life beyond high school, Arsenault is not worried about the band program losing traction. 

“Losing your senior class always has impact no matter how many they are,” Arsenault said. “…But here’s the thing, the lower classes always step up. The junior class will step up and assume that mantle of being seniors and being leaders, it always happens.”

Building back since COVID, Arsenault says he has seen interest in the band program growing.

“I mean literally, kids just want to come in and be part of the program,” he said. “Kids joined after the first of the year. We had several come in and say, ‘I want to do that, how do I get involved?’ So, the interest is good and growing.”

The Thanksgiving game on Nov. 28 is the next big opportunity to catch performances from both Cranston East and West. There will be a pre-game performance featuring Cranston East Thunderbolt Band and Emeralds and Cranston West Falcon Band, Westernettes and Falconettes, at 9:30 a.m. at Cranston Stadium. The game will kick off at 10 a.m.

“Our ultimate goal is to have a great Thanksgiving Day performance,” Arsenault said. “That’s when our Cranston West band, our crosstown rival, and the Cranston East band come together. We’re going to be doing a combined pregame performance, and then we each do our half-time shows at half-time.”