Band show ‘In the Beginning’ comes to a glorious end

band finals

After being robbed, suffering from a broken-down bus, performing in the rain and winning sweepstakes, it has been a season to remember for the marching band. Show after show, the marching band has skillfully obtained numerous awards in every category this field season with their show, “In the Beginning.”

Few will forget the amazing performance at championships, where the band placed fifth among 15 other high-caliber bands from other schools across the state.

“We threw everything we had at them—the entire band knew that this wasn’t the performance to be timid and hold back,” senior drum major Isabel McPherson said.

The performance of the band has been a triumph despite the frequent change of directors in recent years. Since 2008, the band has had three different directors, John Zarco in 2008, Duane Otani in 2009 and Seth Jones since 2010.

“I like to say we are still in a transitional period,” senior baritone player Jasmine Grant said. “Bands have trouble dealing with so many different directors within such short amount of time. But we have a bright future if we can get stability.”

Some believe a move to a different circuit was a pleasant change because it was slightly less competitive than the previous one.

“It gave us confidence and the idea that it was possible to do well at championships,” Grant said.

McPherson, on the other hand, thinks that it is difficult to judge how the band performed this year compared to previous years.

“It’s an entirely different scoring system with different opponents, so who knows?” McPherson said.

But everyone can be agree that this year’s season is one of many successes.

Although the band did not score so highly at the first show at the Cupertino Tournament of the Bands, they soon received a large influx of awards at the next few competitions.

At their second competition, the Foothill Band Review, the band received sweepstakes, which is the top score among all the competitors, in overall field show and color guard, first place in percussion, second place in woodwinds and third place in brass.

“At Foothill, I think we did well because the week before at Cupertino’s [Tournament of the Bands], we had lost to Homestead. That was our first time up against other bands; [we] realized we had to step things up,” McPherson said.

Continuing onto their third competition at the Folsom Fall Festival, held at Folsom High School near Sacramento, the marching band was forced to perform in both wind and cold rain. Regardless, they received first in overall field show, music, general effect, visual effect and color guard.

Winning sweepstakes was a great triumph for band and
Color Guard, considering the treacherous weather that day. The day began with a mediocre run, since the high winds caused many people to trip.

“There were bands we had never heard of that were pretty good, so [that] added a level of uncertainty to the placing,” McPherson said.

Considering the circumstances, the evening performance was expected to be miserable due to the pouring rain, she said.

“But something about the whole situation just unleashed this energy in people,” McPherson said. “We walked off the field feeling the best we had the whole season, albeit the soggiest.”

Finishing off the season in a new circuit, the Marching Band Open Series, the marching band received fifth place with a score of 87.05 during championships, scoring less than two points away from second place.

“We met new bands, and made new friends, and did better than expected,” Grant said.

Despite having to face a robbery, a broken-down bus and unfortunate weather, the band gathered themselves and still maintained a fabulous season.

“The most important thing to me is that during the final performance we left our hearts on the field,” McPherson said. “I could feel this amazing energy from each and every person, and it was incredible.”