Panther Band Takes Top Honors in San Jose

It was loud in Benicia on Saturday night, car horns honking and kids yelling, parents yelling even louder.

The cacophony was all part of Panther pride.

The Benicia High School marching band spent Saturday at Del Mar High School in San Jose at an all-day concert and marching competition.  It was time well spent; the Panther band marched away with the top spot and the sweepstakes award.

All that noise late Saturday was the band and Band Boosters making the "First Street Sweep," which involves the band bus and booster vehicles honking, band kids shouting and onlookers cheering as the caravan travels down First Street. 

Seventeen schools, many larger than Benicia High School, competed. In addition to the marching band, the wind ensemble, jazz band, color guard and drum line competed in San Jose.  Like the marching band, the wind ensemble, jazz band and color guard  placed first in their categories; drum line earned a third-place finish.

Saturday was the first competition of the season. The Marching Panthers' next competition  is the Marine Review on Monday, as part of the Fleet Week kick-off.