West Ranch Hosts Band Competition

On October 31, 2015, West Ranch High School hosted this year’s marching band competition, the Wildcat Classic, at Valencia High School. Sixteen high schools from four different divisions including Chatsworth High School, Lancaster High School, Lompoc High School, and Liberty High School, competed.

The West Ranch Wildcat Marching Band and Color Guard finished at first place in the 4A division at William S. Hart High School’s 32nd annual Rampage field show competition last weekend. At the end of the competition, they performed a “Rain” in which they presented medley of songs.

Amanda Sohn, a senior in West Ranch Marching Band, said in an interview with JSR, “The West Ranch Marching Band has practice every Tuesdays and Thursdays. We march in step to a drill chart while playing music or spinning flags or rifles. We play in the stands at home football games and perform during halftime. Saturdays are mainly when we have competitions.”

“It’s technically a sport that is physically demanding. Marching band in general is a whole new idea from that of a concert band and I really enjoy being part of it,” Sohn reported.

Sohn added, “It’s really interesting to see other schools perform because each of them has a different theme and show. It’s also fun to watch the performers because they work really hard and try their best during their performance. Even if the performance may not be great, the amount of effort put into it is the same.”

“My orchestra instructor encouraged the music students to support by coming, since it was an event meant to be educational and also inspirational at the same time,” say Ginnie Bang, a student volunteer, said in an interview with JSR.

Bang added, “I think that it is awesome that families and students are really getting involved in events like this because it allows students in marching band to share their passion in music.”

The high school bands that competed in the competition were scored for their color guards, percussion sections, visual presentations, and music. Scores of each bands from the competition could help them to qualify for regional and state marching band tournaments in November.

Visit scsboa.org/marching/2014-2015-recaps to see 2015 Field and Parade recaps for each school that performed.