It's been a fantastic year for the ESM Spartan Marching Arts this year! After Marching Band won their class in October, both our Varsity Guard and Winter Percussion Ensemble have now followed it up with first place finishes in their classes this year as well! Congratulations to all 3 groups, you make the ESM Community proud! Three Championships in the span of 5 months! Go Spartans!
Our Winter Percussion Ensemble beat out 11 other schools in their class to bring home gold in the 2025 NYS Percussion Circuit Championships on Sunday, March 30th.
Our Varsity Winter Guard beat out 2 other schools in their class to bring home gold at the 2025 Mid York Color Guard Circuit Championships on Saturday, March 29th.
And we can't forget the great year our JV Guard had, finishing 5th in their class at Championships on Saturday, March 29th. Congrats JV!
Band Director
aveiga@esmschools.orgThe East Syracuse Minoa Spartan Marching Band has a long tradition of creating confident young adults through music, dance, discipline and teamwork. The band is a member of the New York State Field Band Conference and currently competes in the Small School 2 Division. The Spartans have 8 Championships, most recently in 2024.
The East Syracuse Minoa Spartan Marching Band consists of students in grades 7 through 12. The program's existence enables members to become better performers and experience the benefits of hard work, dedication, and perseverance. It is the responsibility of each member to work diligently toward raising the band's level of excellence. To achieve this goal, band members are expected to participate in activities to the fullest degree and make the most of every rehearsal moment. Participation in the activities that help foster and support the organization is also a rewarding experience. Achieving these goals has allowed the ESM Marching Band to enjoy a rich and proud history.
Marching Band
Winter Percussion Ensemble
Varsity Winter Guard
JV Winter Guard
Without General fundraising, our Marching Arts Groups would not be able to travel, get uniforms, props, and many other things that require funding. We're always looking for fundraising ideas too! So if you have any, feel free to attend a monthly booster meeting and let us know! (see calendar for booster meeting dates).
Student Fundraising is equally important. Every dollar you raise in your student account is that much less that is needed to go on trips! Many students fundraise throughout the year to cover the full cost of their share of the annual band or winter group trips.
Next Booster Meeting:
Thursday, May 1st at
6:30pm
ESM High
School Library
The East Syracuse Minoa Spartan Marching Band and Winter Guard Booster Organization, Inc. or, "Band Boosters" for short is a 501(c)(3) Organization. Our purpose is to create and develop public interest in, and provide support for, the activities of the East Syracuse-Minoa Spartan Marching Band, Winter Guards and Winter Percussion Ensemble. The Boosters normally meet on the first Thursday of every month at the High School, usually in the Library and parents are encouraged to attend these meetings. Exact dates can be found on our calendar.
President
Co-Treasurer
Co-Treasurer
Student Treasurer
Secretary
Registration for all of our groups is done with Arbiter Sports through the ESM School District.
Your information is kept in confidence and is secure.
Open to grades 6-12
Registration NOW OPEN!
The ESM Spartan Parade Band is a great way to get introduced to the marching arts while giving back to your community! The Parade Band marches in the East Syracuse and Minoa Memorial Day Parades as well as the Minoa Field Days Parade if time permits.
Register
Open to grades 7-12
Registration NOW OPEN!
Join the 8 time Champions in their quest for a 9th title! The marching band competes at shows throughout the state; including ESM High School for our annual Home Show, the "Spartan Spectacular" in September. This group also goes on an annual 4 day band trip during Columbus Day Weekend!
Register
Open to grades 7-12
Registration Opens October 2025
This 4-Time Championship group competes in the winter with other high school percussion groups. This includes our home show, the "Preview of Champions" held in March each year as well as shows at other schools around the state.
Register
Open to grades 4-8
Registration Opens October 2025
This group is a great way for younger percussionists to get an introduction to playing in an ensemble and serves as a feeder group for our Winter Percussion Ensemble. Our Little Beatz performers get to showcase their talents at our annual "Preview of Champions" Home show at ESM High School each March. Many of our current Winter Percussion members got their start in Little Beatz!
Register
Open to grades 7-12 (audition required)
Registration Opens October 2025
This 3-time champion group showcases the best of the best in spinners and dancers. Because of this, an audition is required to join. The performers compete around the state as well as the "Spartan Spectacular" home show in February at ESM High School.
Register
Open to grades 6-9
Registration Opens October 2025
Our JV group has 4 championships under it's belt and is looking for a 5th! These spinners and dancers are talented performers looking to hone their skills and become part of the Varsity group in the future. This group also performs throughout the state and at the "Spartan Spectacular" home show as ESM High School in February.
Register
Open to grades 3-5
Registration Opens October 2025
Little Spinz is a perfect first stop for those younger members looking to get an introduction to color guard. It teaches them the fundamentals of spinning and dancing to prepare them for the JV level in grade 6. This group also performs at the "Spartan Spectacular" Home show at ESM High School in February.
RegisterHere's where the Marching Band placed at Championships each year since they started competing in 1972:
All ESM students entering grades 7 through 12 and guard members (who must audition) entering grades 7-12 are eligible for the ESM Spartan Marching Band. Students must be in good academic standing to remain on the marching band and/or winter groups.
Marching band practices at ESM High school in the evenings beginning in Early July and generally runs two nights a week from 6-9 p.m. Band Camp weeks (held at the high school) are in mid-August and are our most intensive sessions where most of the show is taught. Once school begins, the band practices two nights a week and Saturdays prior to competitions in the months of September and October. See the band calendar for dates and times of practices.
Band competitions are held around the state on Saturdays in September and October, culminating with state championships at the JMA Wireless Dome at the end of October on Sunday. A band trip generally occurs during the regular season and is usually a four day trip with two of those days occuring on a weekend. See the band calendar for dates and times of performances, competitions and the annual band trip.
Marching band members need to cover the cost of some supplies such as shoes, gloves, and instrumental needs as well as the cost of the annual band trip. Most of the money required for marching band is raised through fundraising efforts by the booster club and the marching band members. There are ample opportunities to fund raise including bottle drives, merchandise sales, and working at the JMA Wireless Dome concession stand. Many members and their families raise all the money needed for the annual band trip through fundraising.
YES! In fact, after each student's first full season of marching band, they each receive a varsity letter at the annual end of season banquet. Each subsequent year, they receive a chevron commemorating successful completion of another season. With Grade 7 being the first eligible year to join, if a student participates each year through their senior year, they will have a Varsity Letter and up to 5 Chevrons.
The ESM Marching Band Booster Organization has a meeting the first Thursday of each month at the high school (dates may be moved due to other circumstances, keep an eye on the calendar for exact dates and times). At these meetings the organization goes over all activities, fundraising efforts, volunteer opportunities and more. The meetings are open to the public, and attendance by marching band parents is encouraged. If you have any questions, comments or even concerns, they can be addressed at the booster meeting or you can contact the band director directly. To have voting rights in the booster club only costs $1 annually.
If you're dontaing to the band or participating in a fundraiser, checks are made out to "ESM Band Boosters"
Gibs Flock
Former Band Director
1989-2018
The "Gibs Flock Character of Excellence" Scholarship is awarded to a graduating ESM senior each year, not based on musical ability, not based on spinning or marching ability, but based on character. The scholarship is awarded to a student who has demonstrated compassion and acceptance of others and who shows extraordinary potential for making positive influences in their school and community in the future. The intention of the scholarship award is to be a reflection of the character and of selfless giving that Gibs Flock shared with this organization in his 29 years of service as our Band Director.
Since 2018, $1,000 has been awarded to each of the following deserving students from this scholarship fund:
Please consider making a donation to this scholarship fund to help ensure it continues to be awarded to deserving students well into the future. Thank you!
Donate!