On March 7, 2024, the Los Banos High School Band had their annual spring concert starring their winterguard, winter percussion, jazz band, concert band, and a few soloists.
Winter percussion started off the event with “Focal Point.” Arleth Lepe (12) said, “We slowed down a bit, so our tempo wasn’t consistent, but the malleta sounded good and we finished together.”
Another member, Joshua Pedreza (11) said, “The winter drumline was far behind what we should’ve been at the time of the spring concert. Despite this though, the spring concert was somehow the best performance we had done at the time of the performance.”
Following winter percussion, winter guard followed quite shortly after performing “Reborn.” Various members said, “The end wasn’t the best and there weren’t clean parts, but it went well for the most part.”
A number of solo performances followed after. Caleb Knoester (9) and Max Mendoza (9) performed “The Quilting Party March,” JJ (11) performed “Somethin’ Stupid,” and Avery Encarnacion (10) performed “What Was I Made For.” Knoester said, “I’d say it went pretty well [his duet], I will say I got real nervous when the Creekside kids started saying my name.”
Encarnacion said, “Well I was nervous in the beginning, I was sick that whole week. I knew I could play the piece but still had nerves. Before I got on the stage I prepared mentally and physically, I was in and I started off okay there was a rhythm that I messed up on, but I continued through. I did well with dynamics and kept a steady tempo. Even though I was a bit fast. I finished the piece and I felt fine looking back at it now I see how I could’ve felt the music more and loosen up. Overall, I think I did good due to the circumstances, I pushed through like nothing happened.”
B Jazz started off the rest of the bands by performing “The Preacher” with Sarah Sowersby (10) soloing, “Long Lost Friend” and “Curacao Blue” with Elizabeth Guardado (12) soloing in both pieces. This time around the pieces sounded a lot more lively with the incorporation of the feedback given to the band during their trip in Stockton. Various members of the band agreed that each piece sounded a lot better than the first time performed, they just believed they could’ve used a bit more practice time as a whole.
A Jazz took after and performed the pieces “Walkin’ Shoes” featuring a Max Mendoza (9) solo, “Time After Time” featuring Ailyn Mena (12) and Elizabeth Guardado (12), and finally “Poco Loco” with Austin Toscano (11) and Arleth Lepe (12) soloing.
After the Jazz Band another wave of soloists performed. Sarah Sowersby (10) performed “Friend Like Me,” Bry Vera (10) performed “Nothing’s New,” followed by Elizabth Guardado (12) “Vivo Per Lei.” Sowersby said about her solo, “I think I did pretty good but I messed up one part. I could have improved if I practiced more, but unfortunately, I didn’t have the time, but I intend to do better next time.”
While Vera said, “For my solo I believe that I did pretty well. I tried to put expression into my music and I was very passionate about the piece I played. I could have probably improved on my projection and volume on the piano compared to my voice, but overall it was a good solo.”
The event came to an end with the concert band performing “Celebration” starring Elizabeth Guardado (12), “Tides,” and “Into the Storm” starring both Grant Yates (10) and Arleth Lepe (12). Vera said, “I believe the concert was good, but there will always be room for improvement within the band. The soloists all played expertly and the winter groups showed off their hard work in a beautiful fashion. Overall, the spring concert was a good display of the hard work and talent of the musicians in the band and winter programs.”
A surprise performance was made by the concert band, playing “Happy Birthday” to show gratitude and appreciation towards the head color guard and winterguard’s coach, partner for helping out with all the band events.
