HEUVELTON - When the Marching Bulldogs from Heuvelton Central School hit the streets this summer, they will be doing so with a band made up entirely of Heuvelton students, just as they have done for dozens and dozens years before now.

Director Megan Wattie said this year’s show will include a tribute to Abba, including the songs “Mamma Mia” and “Dancing Queen.”

“It should be a lot of fun,” she said.

This year’s band will include approximately 20 students with a color guard including approximately 16 more.

While the numbers are down from what the district is used to having, Ms. Wattie said she’s not only looking forward to this summer, but she’s looking forward to the future.

“We’re going to be very young this year,” she said. “A lot of out students are considerably younger than in the past. We had a lot of high school students who weren’t able to march this year.”

When asked why she thinks membership in the band has shrunk over the years, she said today’s world is different than it was even five or 10 years ago.

“There’s so many other things for kids to do over the summer,” she said. “It used to be marching band was the thing to do over the summer so you could see your friends. Now with Facebook and cell phones they’re communicating all the time. They’re playing summer soccer. They’re working. They’re going to camp. There is just so much to do.”

Given the youth of this year’s band though, Ms. Wattie said she feels like the Bulldogs have a bright future a head of them.

“It’s going to be a different experience, but over the next couple of years as these kids grow up it’s going to be a great band,” she said.

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