The Panther Band earned top honors at the Foothill Band Review in Pleasanton on October 22. They scored First and Third in concert competitions, tied for First with their Color Guard routine, and secured Sweepstakes awards in three categories: Showmanship, Music (tied with Fairfield High School) and Parade. They received the ultimate honor, being named "2011 Foothill Parade Sweepstakes Champion".
Hosting since 1974, Foothill Band organizers say it is the biggest band review in the area, luring 50 schools from Northern California and Nevada.
The day started at 4 am. The heart of a band parent becomes very full at the onset of a day, as seen by the Facebook messages starting at pre-dawn, rallying each other before coffee and wishing luck to all. With frequent updates throughout the day, there was the final race to post pictures quickly for friends and family.
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In a 5:03 am post by Leslie Blackie, band parent: “Just when I think I am too old to start Saturdays before 5 am with the band, I look at the clear night sky and find Orion, Cassiopeia, the Big Dipper and think - actually this is a GREAT way to start the day!” Other parents chimed in.
Board Member, Eleanor Prouty rode the 5:20 am band bus and experienced a …not to be mistaken for a time to relax. “I could tell the kids were a bit amped but contained... getting ready and focused.” Without the benefit of light, all this energy must have appeared as static electricity.
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At 7:30 am, the Symphonic Band performed Abram's Pursuit and Rest, as opposite in mood as their titles suggest. Their warm-up session caused Mr. , Band Director, to say, “Whatever you did, do that again!” This was the Symphonic Band’s first competition, and the first time the two songs were heard indoors. They sounded all the richer as the fully awake crowd was served an audio infusion of a grande Panther espresso.
Moments later, the Wind Ensemble performed. Their Symphony #1: The Lord of the Rings: 1. Gandalf had an excerpt which caught Mr. Martin's ear in the past, so he isolated the segment and then rewrote it with different instrumentation. Now, it is the Fanfare portion of their current march. The Russian Christmas Music piece lifted the ceiling like sturdy columns. This performance earned them First Place.
At 10 am, the band was fully suited, warmed up and near the starting line for their marching competition. They were restrained and itching to go, much like race horses before the start of a derby. Bands had just finished but stopped on the sidelines to watch, which bolstered the Panthers further. One booster noted, “It’s going to be a dogfight today. There are a lot of good bands here.”
The powerful Panther band moved as a single unit down the street, as large and unified as a majestic parade float. The acoustics on Pleasanton’s Main Street always frame the music with the verve of an indoor theater. The Color Guard had perfect synchrony with the band.
Joe Ellett posted: “I watched several bands today, and all but one disbanded at the end of performance and kind of wandered back up toward Amador High School. At the end of competition, the Panther Band reformed into single file and Jeremy led the band, in step and in silence, the many blocks back to the buses. Being a member of the Panther Band isn't something to slip into for a few minutes and then discard; being in the Panther Band is 24x7x365. I just thought it was neat that our band remained disciplined even when the judges wouldn't see it and the audience wouldn't see it.” The band enters performance mode from the moment they step on the bus, until their return to Benicia High School.
During the award ceremony, the Panthers’ three leaders were on the field saluting each award for over an hour. The Panther salutes were still crisp, even though the official competition ended four hours earlier. The Benicia Sweepstakes awards came in such quick waves that the Panther Drum Major rarely had time to get back in line. One Sweepstakes honor was shared with Fairfield High School, another highly regarded band.
Leslie Blackie posted that night: “Amazing their scores held up throughout the competition since they marched pretty early in the band review.”
Eleanor Prouty mentioned, “On the ride back, they share headphones. It’s touching because you could see they genuinely like each other.” The buses toured Benicia’s First Street with horns beeping, kids shouting and waving in celebration. In a comical moment, a customer came out and said, “What did they win NOW?”
Even the kids used Facebook for their thoughts, which kept the momentum going. Enthusiastic posts at the end of the day included, “I Love Band Reviews!”
The Panther Band will work to remain undefeated as they travel to Merced for competition in November.