Panthers Blaze Through Marching Competition

On April 30, the had a 7:45 a.m. start time so members could be driven in a caravan to the Armijo Band Review in Fairfield.  They decided to forgo a bus in order to save money. The vans were packed full of Panthers, instruments, garment bags and snacks.  

This was after a busy mid-season fitting in April, in which uniforms were altered because many band members grew over the winter. It was interesting to see the logistics of taller band members being squeezed together (several of whom brought more than one instrument and some with three uniforms.) Somehow, they still arrived at their destination as friends. 

With a routine that had been kept on ice since November, the Panther marching band thawed it out and resumed where they left off five months earlier. It was polished, warmed up and ready for this, their first competition of the spring season.  In fact, during the Wind Ensemble competition concert, the fire alarms sounded right on cue between songs. “That’s because we’re so hot!” quipped

During the 10-hour day, all of the groups brought home an impressive array of awards.  The Symphonic Band, Jazz Band and drum major (Greg Sunga) each scored first-place wins.  The drumline, Color Guard and Wind Ensemble took Sweepstakes awards (higher than the first-place winner in their category). And the marching band made a bold statement by winning all parade categories. The musicians topped it off with the distinctive Parade Grand Sweepstakes award, earned by the best overall band.  

Why did they do so well in their marching competition? “I think it carried over from our practice the day before. We had a really great practice and we ended it with a lot of confidence,” said BHS junior Allison Kensiski. 

Many of the Panthers also are members of the live orchestra that accompanies the fabulous Beauty and the Beast musical that is still playing at Benicia High School.  So, after a full day of competing, these musicians went back to the high school and didn’t leave until well after 10 that night.  In addition, many Panthers had a quick turn-around in order to be at the Benicia Classic Car show the next morning to work the 6 a.m. shift at their biggest fundraiser.  

This hard-working marching band has a weekend break (except for those in the musical, who have four more shows), and then they compete in their final marching competition in Vallejo on May 14.  Thus begins the month of ‘finals’: final marching, final concerts, final practice, awards and graduation. This always proves to be a very emotional and proud month for the band, and it will be full of fun and tradition.