As their fall season kicked off, SCHS’s marching band achieved something they had not in over a decade: a first place win.
On Saturday, Oct. 11, the band performed their field show “Strike: A Call to Action” at the Gilroy Garlic Classic band competition at Gilroy High School. They played songs featuring music from Mozart, Stravinsky’s “Firebird” and Lin-Manuel Miranda’s “Hamilton.” They were awarded for Best Music, Best Effect, Best Colorguard and Best Percussion. For music director Johnny Erdman, this moment was unforgettable.
“The coolest thing for me was watching the students because I don’t think it (winning) is a thing that they expected,” Erdman said. “I saw happiness, I saw crying, I saw students hug, so coming back to school with some trophies is awesome and cool and a visual representation of that.”
For junior Fernando “Bobby” Lopez, the win surprised him and other students.
“(In) my freshman year, you (think), ‘Oh, last place,’ and that’s kind of the norm. Last year, when we got second place, I was (thinking), ‘Oh, that’s really weird.’ This year, I didn’t think we were gonna get first place. I was surprised,” Lopez said.
The performance itself was no easy task. Freshman Rosslyn Chang emphasized the importance of precision and coordination. With over 70 students on the field, synchronization and footwork made things scary, especially with a large audience.
“It was so nerve wracking,” Chang said. “I was scared for my life because it’s the first ever competition I’ve ever had, and there was a whole crowd of people watching.”
Preparation started long before the competition, with rehearsals every Monday and Wednesday evening in addition to six hours of practice on Saturdays. On top of these sessions, the band worked with challenges other competitors did not.
“We don’t have an official registration that students can sign up for before the season starts, so we actually don’t close our membership for students to join until the second week of the school year,” Erdman said. “We’re always about three or four weeks behind in terms of other bands.”
Despite setbacks, the band completed their full show before the first competition, which many consider a huge accomplishment. For junior Sammy Herrera, confidence was especially key.
“I was super scared because I thought we were gonna lose, (but) I didn’t mess up as much as I normally do,” Herrera said. “One of my friends who can’t normally carry me… they had so much adrenaline that they picked me up and threw me in the air.”
Many students pointed to section leaders who helped make the win possible. Senior Jean Yoo, the woodwind section leader and senior Julie Arias, the drum major, were named multiple times as supportive mentors who kept spirits high.
“They let us take a breather and let us have a fun time,” Chang said. “They have been really encouraging and they make me feel like I can do it (perform).”
Along with the leaders, Erdman pointed out that the victory was something shared by all students.
“It truly takes everyone to make the performance to where it is,” Erdman said.
With the season still continuing, the band is far from stopping. Their first place trophies serve as a proud reminder to continue to work hard despite challenges.
“When I look back on Saturday’s show, I remember all of the hugging, all of the happiness, all the high fives, all the tears from them because they were recognized for all the hard work that they’ve gone through,” Erdman said.
Since the Gilroy Garlic Classic, SCHS Marching Band has continued to succeed, earning second place overall at the Independence Band Tournament on Saturday, Oct. 18 and winning the award for Best Music. Their next competition is the Irish Guard Invitational on Saturday, Nov. 1 at Dublin High School at 1:45 p.m.