The Saint Paul’s Marching Wolves have many upcoming events, including the football season, Mardi Gras, and a Spring Concert. The Marching Wolves are well-known and respected among people on the Northshore and even throughout New Orleans for their dancing and playing skills. 

The Marching Wolves are beloved primarily because of Mardi Gras. Parade-goers get hyped up to see the Marching Wolves. Mardi Gras is also what the band members look forward to the most, and it’s a big reason new band members join the Marching Wolves.

Marching over 40 miles across seven parades is something that the band members remember for years to come. This year, the Marching Wolves will march in Excalibur, Olympia, Carrollton, Hermes, Endymion, Bacchus, and Orpheus.

The band’s leadership this year is excellent. At least one skilled leader leads all sections of the band.

Although new, this year’s two drum majors are skilled and respectable. This year’s senior drum major is Nico Perdigao, who was promoted from woodwind captain. The junior drum major is Connor Russo, a former tenor drum player.

“Being in the band has been an experience like no other, and being drum major has been the greatest honor,” Perdigao stated.

Football season is when the band is first seen each year. Although band members do not love football season as much as Mardi Gras, it is still a great time. 

The band plays at almost every varsity football game for Saint Paul’s. It performs several songs at halftime, typically outshining the opposing school’s band, which is allowed to play before the Marching Wolves. 

The football season looks bright for the band, as shows are planned already for most games. The Marching Wolves plan to bring back an old, loved show, a new show of old classics, and a new show of songs by a popular musician.

The old show being brought back is the Bruno Mars show, which was last performed in the 2023 football season. The songs in the show are “Uptown Funk,” “24k,” “Leave the Door Open,” “Runaway Baby,” and “Treasure,” in that order.

The two new shows the band will be doing this year are a disco show and a show of songs by The Weekend, who performed at the Super Bowl halftime show a few years ago.

One group within the band is the dancing group of girls called the Golden Blues. The Golden Blues go with the band to all football games and parades. There are 30 members in the Golden Blues, and both groups get to know one another well throughout the year.

Golden Blues coach Mrs. Audrey Pool, also a math teacher at Saint Paul’s, believes The Golden Blues are remarkable. “The Golden Blues program is special because the girls are ambassadors for St. Scholastica Academy and Saint Paul’s School within our community.  My goal as their coach is to foster a team founded on mutual respect while combining athleticism and hard work with having fun. It is both exciting and humbling to have the opportunity to work with such a talented and amazing group of young women.”

Additionally, according to Pool, with football and Mardi Gras, the girls stay busy year-round. They end their season three weeks before the next one ends.

During the summer, the Golden Blues attend the UDA camp in June. They won the following team awards from UDA: Superior Team Performance, Team Leadership Award (awarded to only one team), 3rd Place Home Routine, and a bid to UDA Nationals. Five of the Golden Blues were asked to be UDA staff recruits.

Co-captain of the Golden Blues Maddie Landers has enjoyed her new leadership position. “Being the Co-Captain of the Golden Blues means that I have to take on this huge role of helping to lead the team. I am always there to listen to my team and to respond to their concerns or questions. Most importantly, I am super grateful to have this role in pushing my team to the best of their ability!”

Ultimately, there is an incredible bond that the Golden Blues and Marching Wolves share.

Unfortunately, the Marching Wolves have had some issues with fewer members in recent years. The good news, however, is that numbers are up across the board from last year, as more members want to be part of one of Saint Paul’s most prestigious clubs. Still, many sections need a few more members, particularly the trumpets and saxophones.

Director of the band, Andrew Moran, encourages all interested musicians, regardless of experience, to join the Marching Wolves. “It allows people to learn something they wouldn’t be able to learn outside of the band; they make friends and be part of something bigger than who they are,” said Moran.

The Spring Concert is how the band ends its year. The theme and songs for the concerts have yet to be announced.

The Marching Wolves’ first show of the year is on September 13, 2024, at Hunter Stadium, when Saint Paul’s plays Brother Martin High School in football.