LEWISTOWN — When it came time to strike up the band, the new leader of the Mifflin County High School Marching Huskies was ready with his baton.

Brandon Kahley was hired in July as the new director of bands, replacing longtime legendary Art Belfiore. Known affectionately as ‘Mr. B’ or ‘Mr. Marching Band,’ Belfiore retired after an amazing career as band leader at Lewistown Area High School then Mifflin County High School.

The 25-year-old Kahley wouldn’t dream of trying to fill the shoes of Belfiore, aspiring to keep the decorated program heading in the same direction.

“I’m looking to keep it moving in the same direction,” explained Kahley, who spent the past three years resurrecting the Bucktail Area High School marching band. Kahley served as the band director and music teacher at Bucktail middle and high school schools since the fall of 2022. “I didn’t come in with any expectations.

“I had no idea what to expect and wanted to work with what was there,” Kahley added.

What did he find? “A great group of kids, and a wonderful staff to work with,” he replied.

With the Marching Huskies’ annual band camp looming, Kahley and the students spent extra time rehearsing over the summer months to prepare. He approached it much like the Huskies’ athletic teams with their offseason workouts.

After completing his first two-week camp at Mifflin County on Friday, the extra rehearsals paid off for the band, which numbers about 75 this year.

“The musicality was wonderful with the kids,” Kahley said. “We were able to break down the band so they had individual time with staff members.”

The instructors working with smaller groups from each section of instrumentalists was “really nice,” Kahley added.

“The returnees came back swinging, and the rookies had a few things to learn,” said Kahley, speaking about the success of band camp. “The returnees were patient and showed them the ropes, so we got up to snuff quickly.”

While Kahley has gone out of his way not to make many changes for his maiden voyage at Mifflin County. Fans will likely notice the first-ever all-female Marching Husky bass drum line.

The five-member unit — Airalynn Alexander, Gracen Heckendorn, Bell Matthews, Alessa Norris and Emmalynn Reedy — are also first-year players on bass drum.

“They are all young, so they will grow and get better every year,” Kahley said.

The Marching Huskies did enjoy a few new amenities from the Husky Multi-Sports Complex, including the new turf at Kish Field at Donald M. Chapman III Stadium, and a new parking lot that is lined like a football field from one 20-yard line to the other.

Kahley and Co. held a Parents Preview Show for their “Medusa”-themed performance last week as a test run to march at the new stadium. They also performed in front of a large crowd as Kahley said the home bleachers were nearly full.

“It went well, the kids learned their spots,” he recalled. “It’s a very nice facility.”

The Marching Huskies will perform during pregame at football games, starting with the first-ever game at the new stadium against Central Mountain on Aug. 22.

Their performance will start around 6:20 p.m. School officials are starting a new tradition that has the band and cheerleaders marching from the school’s band room to the stadium.

The band also has a dedicated section at the new stadium, located in the endzone, next to the students.

As far as Belfiore, “Mr. Marching Band” has popped in a few times. “He gave me some assistance in finding things, and he came in to see a few friendly faces,” Kahley said.

For the first game at the new stadium, Kahley said he and Belfiore both will direct the Star-Spangled Banner. “It will be a sort of a passing of the torch,” Kahley explained.

“He had done such a wonderful job putting the program in the place where it is today,” Kahley added.

Kahley just wants to keep the program’s accomplishments hitting all the right notes.