Edison band to present ‘Tearin’ Up the Turf’

RICHMOND -- Theirs is a story of camaraderie. Theirs is an event meant solely to entertain. And theirs is a performance which they will never forget.

Edison High School's marching band is preparing for its 18th-annual Tearin' Up the Turf performance, scheduled to take place at 7 p.m. Saturday at the high school stadium in Richmond. The event will take place rain or shine. In the event of rain, the performances will be held inside the school's field house. Gates will open at 6 p.m., with tickets costing $7 for general admission; $5 for seniors; and those under 5, free of charge.

Marc Sansone, Edison band director, explained he started Tearin' Up the Turf in 2006. In the beginning stages, approximately five to six schools participated. Throughout the years, that number has grown. Today, there are 10 bands performing, with each receiving between 10 to 12 minutes of play time.

Sansone stated an open invitation was sent out to all area high schools. Those responding to the invitation are eager to take part in Saturday's event and share with the audience their halftime performances.

The 2023 performances will feature the following high school marching bands: Edison Local, Oak Glen, Wellsville, Caldwell, Toronto, Bridgeport, Bellaire, Harrison Central, Conneaut and Thomas Jefferson.

"We are so glad to be hosting their halftime shows," Sansone said. "Each band will have 10 to 12 minutes to rock the house."

Each band strives to do its best and only another band member really understands the time and aim each band member puts into their performances, he noted.

"All of their hard work is appreciated," Sansone continued. "We also want to give a big thanks to all of the band directors for coming out here and allowing their school to perform."

He said directors have to juggle a lot when it comes to extra-curricular activities, including sports, clubs and outside activities.

But it always seems to work out. Since the 2006 performance, Sansone has never missed a year to put on the Tearin' Up the Turf performance. Even during the COVID pandemic in 2020 when there couldn't be an audience, he found a way to make the performance happen. He asked health department officials what guidelines needed to be followed and students performed their halftime show online. The event was hosted through Facebook.

"We have kept this going continuously for the past 17 years and are excited to be able to have everyone back in the same stadium performing for an audience again," Sansone commented. He noted there are usually 450 musicians taking part in the two-hour show. An intermission will be held around the halfway point, where full concessions will be on site. T-shirts will be sold with the logo on the front and a listing of the bands taking part on the back. Sansone compared the shirts to those sold at a rock concert.

In addition, concessions will be available as a mix-and-mingle for band members prior to the show, Sansone noted. He stated area merchants will be donating to the bands at the concession and candygrams are expected to be sent to various band performers, which will include a special message from a loved one.

Sansone said the Tearin' Up the Turf show has been very successful throughout the years and he hopes to continue to have many more performances in the future. It is not only a way for band members to form new friendships, but a way for these talented students to showcase their skills to other communities, he concluded.