The Peach Festival is a busy time for plenty of people, but the members of the Middletown High School Band and Band Boosters do double duty on the day of the event. The band will perform in the annual parade, of course, but later, stationed at the Middletown Historical Society Booth at Cochran Square, they will be selling peaches, Peach Festival T-shirts and aprons. They will also help by offering information and directions to visitors, and selling peaches – individually, by the bag, or by the carton.

For Middletown Cavaliers band director Brian Endlein, the festival is a chance for students to give back to the community that has supported them for years.

“The band has been involved with the Peach Festival for at least the eight years I've been at Middletown High School, but they have been participating through several previous directors,” Endlein said. “The festival is definitely something our students look forward to each year. We love performing for the community. It signals the unofficial start of our fall season, and is a great way to cap off our two weeks of band camp and show everyone some of what the students have learned so far.”

In addition to the excitement of performing – particularly for freshmen who are new to the band – Endlein said, “Events like this help us offset the costs of our program each year to help us ensure maximum participation from our students. On big trip years, such as this year to Walt Disney World or previous years to London, it also helps students partake in these once-in-a-lifetime performance opportunities. When your town's name is on the side of your school building, it is humbling privilege and amazing responsibility to give back to those that have given so much to us.

“Being out and about, selling peaches at this event, as well as performing in the parade, supports this distinctly Middletown tradition and helps keep our students in touch with our community,” Endlein added. “It's the little things that make Middletown special, and that is what I want my students to carry with them when we travel and perform, as well as for the rest of their lives.”

The Middletown Cavaliers involve every member in activities and competitions. Their stated philosophy is “based on the belief that within every individual, the potential for greatness exists,” the school’s website reads. “When the efforts of each individual are focused toward a common goal, and when each individual pursues that goal to the absolute best of his/her ability, the goal --no matter how lofty-- will be achieved. Honesty, sincerity, respect, cooperation, dedication and the desire to achieve excellence are the qualities that bring out the greatness in all of us.

“Every person in our organization is essential to its success, regardless of the position they hold. There are no performers who ‘sit on the bench’ in marching band. Everyone is a ‘varsity starter’ at every rehearsal and performance. All of us must work together to achieve our goals. We derive strength and courage from each other, working side-by-side toward excellence in rehearsal and in performance. Success is achieved through unselfishness, understanding and persistence.”