JACKSON – The day of the Irish was special in town but not for any local event featuring bagpipe playing or a party at a local pub; all eyes were smiling as they watched the Jackson Township High School Band march in this year’s Saint Patrick’s Day Parade in New York City.
Jackson’s band was the second high school marching band in the line-up. Band Director Scott Katona said “we joined other high school bands in the parade from Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Connecticut, Louisiana, and New York.”
The band is an amalgamation of members from the Jackson Liberty High School and Jackson Memorial High School which merged to become Jackson Township High School in September 2025.
What helped get the band to the Big Apple for this parade was their tournament victories last fall which included winning the New Jersey State Championship. This marked the band’s first state title.
“Along with the title we also won special awards for Best Music, Best Percussion and Best Color Guard.
The Jackson Township Marching Band has gone undefeated this season and ended the year earning the official title of Group 4 Open New Jersey State Champions,” he added.
The band had also earned the title of Region Champions after beating their rival band Metuchen High School Marching Band which was ranked first in the Region for weeks, up until the Jackson Marching Band claimed their victory and the title of Region Champions.
“We compete in the Tournament of Bands Marching circuit and we are classified as Region 7 which consists of schools from Hunterdon, Monmouth, Mercer, Somerset, Middlesex, Ocean and Union counties,” Katona said.
This marked his 8th State title as band director in Jackson. He told The Jackson Times at the time, “I’m proud of these students and parents for coming together as one band and color guard and creating such a successful year. ‘One Town, One Sound’ has been my motto this year and I couldn’t be prouder of the outcome.”
Katona told The Jackson Times this week, “this was the first time for the school, but not the first time for the town. Both Jackson Liberty and Jackson Memorial High Schools have attended this parade in the past.”
“We performed an Irish medley of ‘Danny Boy’ and ‘Irish Washerwoman,’ an arrangement by retired Jackson Band Director Bud McCormick,” Katona said. “Any time an opportunity like this arises, it is a big deal. This is something the students will remember for the rest of their lives.”
Katona noted that it “isn’t everyday you have the opportunity to march in the largest Saint Patrick’s Day Parade in the world.”
He said that he and the band were very “excited to represent the town of Jackson and our community. The parents give the music program great support and we would have never been able to march in this parade without their help.”
“We joined other high school bands in the parade from Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Connecticut, Georgia, Rhode Island, New York and other bands in New Jersey,” the band director added.
Daniel Buonocore, a junior trombone player, noted that “performing for a crowd is one thing, performing on TV is another. I for one, am beyond thrilled to be given an experience like this. However, the best part about this all is that we get to be Irish.”
Freshman snare drummer Jaxson Stadick said, “getting to experience this event with such an amazing group of band members and friends, is a once in a lifetime opportunity, and I am so grateful to be a part of it.”
