By Gillian Graham

Staff Writer

 Mackenzie Toussaint has one word to describe the end Biddeford High School’s marching band: devastating.

“It basically broke my heart in half,” said the 16-year-old drummer. “It split my marching band family apart.”

Toussaint, who has played drums since fourth grade, said she was in shock and cried for two days. Equally devastated was Zachary Hill, who has played alongside Toussaint for years.

“It was complete heartbreak,” Hill said. “I just stopped. My heart was broken.”

Kelby Nicolas, a 16-year-old Biddeford junior, said he had trouble understanding how a longstanding Biddeford tradition could fall by the wayside.

“I was dumbfounded why they would cut it because it’s a big part of Biddeford,” he said.

Once known for its large and successful marching band, program enrollment dwindled in recent years. The school department eliminated the marching band program last year during budget cuts.

But the five drummers weren’t about to give up their love of marching. Instead, they joined the Old Orchard Beach High School Marching Band and swapped their black and orange uniforms for blue and white.

Mark Manduca, music director at Old Orchard Beach High School, said students are eligible to attend his school’s program if their school doesn’t offer it. The marching band has a long history of accepting students from other schools, including Thornton Academy, Scarborough High School and Kennebunk High School.

“It’s too bad, but I understand the reasons” the Biddeford program was cut, Manduca said. “They had tough decisions to make.”

The five Biddeford drummers and two horn players joined the Old Orchard Beach band during the summer, bringing the total number of band members to 50, Manduca said. Having students from Biddeford play in the band as a “mutually beneficial” and richer experience for everyone, he said

“They realize kids are kids and music is music,” Manduca said. “It’s really about making music and having a nice experience.”

Though they were happy to find a new home, it wasn’t an easy decision for all of the Biddeford musicians. Keith Stevens, 17, said putting on an Old Orchard Beach uniform wasn’t going to be easy because he is still a Biddeford Tiger.

“I really only wanted to do it if the rest of the drum line was,” he said.

Section leader Zachary Gagnon, an Old Orchard Beach junior, said he was the only returning member of the section and welcomed the addition of five drummers. Cody Hackett, an Old Orchard Beach junior, also joined the drum line this year.

“I really appreciate that they came,” he said. “It’s a blessing to have these guys. It’s honestly been a good thing. It’s sad what happened to them, but it’s great to have them in our program.”

John Troegner, a 17-year-old Biddeford senior, said he enjoys the more relaxed and fun atmosphere in Old Orchard Beach, where the music tends to have a jazz influence. He said the band members quickly began to feel like family.

While Hill said he appreciates playing in Old Orchard Beach, there still are bittersweet moments. The Biddeford band had different traditions, including a drum line tradition of eating a pickle on the center of the field and leaving the jar behind after each competition. He said he looks forward to forming new traditions in Old Orchard Beach. 

Tom LaPointe, who was an instructor in Biddeford and now works with the Old Orchard Beach High School drum line, said he was “crushed” by the decision to cut the band, but happy they found a new home. A 2002 Biddeford graduate, LaPointe marched with the Biddeford band throughout school.

“It was my roots, it’s where I come from,” he said. “But the transition has been pretty easy. I really enjoy the fact they can still go somewhere and march.”

So does Toussaint.

“As long as I’m marching, I’m set,” she said. “We’re still going to march that field.”

 Staff Writer Gillian Graham can be reached at 282-4337, ext. 213.