Strike up the bands.
More than 10 high school bands
– one coming all the way from Calgary, Alberta, Canada – will
pull in to town Saturday to compete for trophies in San Benito High
school’s second annual San Benito Invitational Band Festival.
Hollister – Strike up the bands.
More than 10 high school bands – one coming all the way from Calgary, Alberta, Canada – will pull in to town Saturday to compete for trophies in San Benito High school’s second annual San Benito Invitational Band Festival.
The SBHS Scarlet Regiment Band will begin the parade venue of the competition, marching through Hollister performing “Rifle Regiment.” Since SBHS is hosting the event, they wont be able to compete, but they will be scored on their performance.
“I’m just glad we have something like this going on, with music getting cut (at schools) all over the place,’ Band Director Jim Zuniga said. “For us to be able to celebrate music is fantastic.”
To make room for the parade portion of the event, starting at 9am on Saturday San Benito and Monterey streets will be closed between Nash and Haydon streets; B Street will be closed from West to Monterey streets; Haydon Street will be closed from Monterey to San Benito streets; and Richardson and Palmtag streets will be closed.
Planning for the event has been going on for about a year, Zuniga said. The event will feature parade, concert and jazz categories for competition.
Last year, the festival’s inaugural run was a success, Student Band Director Kristen Anderson said, a senior who has been playing flute since she was in fourth grade.
“People really, really liked it,” she said. “They liked it so much they’re coming back this year.”
The Scarlet Regiment Band has had a successful year of competition. Most recently, its varsity and amateur winterguards were both named champions at the Northern California Band Association Championships in Merced. The band’s drum line also received first place honors at the competition.
Anderson, who wants to study to be a band leader, attributes much of the band’s success to Zuniga’s leadership.
“I have so much respect for him and for what he has done,’ she said. “Nobody cared about the band before … now they respect us. He’s getting us out there and making it exciting.”
The Jazz portion of Saturday’s competition will start at 8:25am in the school’s cafeteria. The parade competition will kick off at 10am. And The concert portion will be held at 11:35am in the school’s Mattson Gym.
Luke Roney covers education and agriculture for the Free Lance. Reach him at 831-637-5566 ext. 335 or at lr****@fr***********.com
