TOWAMENCIN — Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the North Penn Marching Knights are continuing their extraordinary performances and competitions for their 2020 season. With the school board approval back in August, the band is excited to be back on the field.

As a sophomore, Lily Woulfe, a flutist for the Marching Knights, was thrilled to learn that the season would march on.

“My immediate reaction when we found out we would have a season this year was the happiness that I would still get this experience,” said Wolfe. 

Being known for writing original shows, North Penn decided to put a spin on a classic horror story.

“One thing I’m excited about this season is our show, The Redemption,” Woulfe said. “It’s a lot more serious and dramatic than past shows since it’s based on Stephen King’s The Shawshank Redemption.” 

This being his final year with the Marching Knights, senior Benjamin Heck is ecstatic to perform with such a positive group of people. 

“I’m really proud of our Drumline for their lack of complaining. It would be so easy to show up and whine about ‘this isn’t a real season,’ but we’ve been a really solid group and are really focused on improving and moving forward,” Heck said.  

For band Mr. Joseph Santanello, the news from the school board brought both relief and excitement.

“Although this season has looked a lot different than past years, we are happy to be able to have this opportunity,” Santanello said. 

This being his second year with the North Penn Marching Knights, the preparations for this season have gone above and beyond the typical requirements due to COVID-19. 

“The main challenges we have faced this year is the fact that we made the decision to split the Marching Knights into 4 smaller groups for the season,” Santanello said. “Each group does their own special version of The Redemption show.  We rehearse on separate fields and compete independently of one another.” 

The continual hard work and dedication from the parents, students, and staff have made the season not only possible but beautiful. 

“We may not be able to do all the things we love, but at least we are together, striving for musical and visual excellence and staying safe in a crazy, unprecedented time,” said Santanello.