Clark's ALJ Marching Crusaders Take First at Scotch Plains-Fanwood Contest

The Arthur L. Johnson High School Marching Crusaders earned top honors at their season opener, sweeping the top caption awards at a New Jersey Marching Band Directors Association contest held September 19, 2026, at Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School. The Clark band's strong start signals a competitive season ahead.

TOP CAPTION SWEEP

The Marching Crusaders earned first place in their group and received the highest scores in Best Music, Best Visual, and Best Effects — a commanding performance that demonstrated technical excellence across all competitive categories.

THE 2026 PRODUCTION: "FRACTURED"

The band's 2026 production is titled "Fractured," a creative concept that explores the idea of embracing imperfections and finding strength through putting the pieces back together. The production serves as both a musical and visual narrative, reflected in the band's sweep of music, visual, and effects awards.

DIRECTOR'S PERSPECTIVE

"The students gave a very solid first performance, and I think the performance accurately represents where we are at this point in the season," said Alex DiFabio, Director of Music and Marching Band Director. "There is still a lot of work ahead of us, but the students have shown a tremendous amount of commitment and are eager to continue improving as the season progresses."

DiFabio directs the band alongside Andrew Calo, with Antonio Triolo serving as drum major. The trio leads a band committed to both artistic and competitive excellence.

SEASON MOMENTUM AND UPCOMING COMPETITIONS

The Marching Crusaders returned to competition on Saturday, September 26, 2026, at Union High School, continuing their fall season schedule. The band will perform "Fractured" at NJMBDA contests and home football games throughout the fall season.

Union County Life covers arts, education, and student achievement across all 21 Union County municipalities. The ALJ marching band's competitive success represents the artistic development and dedication of student musicians.

The strong start in September has set expectations high for the remainder of the marching season, with additional competitive opportunities ahead.

7. FAQ

What is the Arthur L. Johnson Marching Crusaders?
The Arthur L. Johnson High School Marching Crusaders is the competitive marching band program at Arthur L. Johnson High School in Clark, New Jersey. The band competes in New Jersey Marching Band Directors Association contests and performs at home football games.

What awards did the marching band win at the September 19 contest?
The Marching Crusaders swept the top caption awards, earning first place in their group and winning Best Music, Best Visual, and Best Effects — the highest scores in all three major competitive categories.

What is the 2026 production title?
The 2026 production is titled "Fractured," which explores the idea of embracing imperfections and finding strength through putting the pieces back together.

Who directs the marching band?
Alex DiFabio is the Director of Music and Marching Band Director. Andrew Calo serves as co-director, and Antonio Triolo is the drum major.

Where did the September 19 competition take place?
The New Jersey Marching Band Directors Association contest was held at Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School on September 19, 2026.

When is the band's next competition?
The Marching Crusaders returned to competition on Saturday, September 26, 2026, at Union High School.

Where else does the marching band perform?
In addition to NJMBDA competitions, the band performs "Fractured" at Arthur L. Johnson's home football games throughout the fall season.

What does Director DiFabio say about the season ahead?
DiFabio said the students gave a solid first performance, there is still work ahead, and the students have shown tremendous commitment and eagerness to continue improving as the season progresses.