Sunlake Band Soars at Competition

Sunlake High School’s Soaring Sound has a singular goal this marching season. As its marching show’s title indicates, the band is out to earn number “One” honors this year.

If the results of the Hurricane Pride Invitational are any indication, the band is well on its way.

The Soaring Sound won first in its class during the Oct. 11 competition staged at Citrus High School in Inverness. The invitational pulls in some of the best bands from across the state.

For its 2A class, Sunlake’s band won:

• Best Visual
• Best Music
• Best Percussion
• Best Drum Majors
• Best Effect

The Soaring Sound also earned superior ratings for:

• Visual
• Music
• Percussion
• Drum Majors
• Effect

The band took first in class, as well, which gives it top seeding going into the state semi-finals.

Sunlake also earned fourth-place honors in the finals, which pitted the Soaring Sound against a number of larger bands from around the state.

“I can’t even begin to describe how proud I am of my students,” said Sunlake band director Tonya O’Malley. “The Sunlake band students and their parents are some of the hardest working people I have ever encountered. It has taken an extreme amount of dedication and team work to get to the level of excellence these students are able to perform at.”

Next up is the East Lake Classic on Oct. 25 during which Sunlake will compete at the 3A level. On Nov. 1, the band will take part in the Music Performance Assessment at Hernando High School before heading to the FMBC State Semi-Finals on Nov. 22.

Photo Credit: Members of the Soaring Sound perform at the Hurricane Pride Invitational. Photo courtesy of the Sunlake High School Soaring Sound.