Hail to the marching bands, with shout-outs to El Diamante and Clovis West
Once a band person, always a band person. (I refuse to bow to convention and label those of us who appreciate marching bands “geeks.”) At least once a year, I try to catch a marching band competition in the Fresno area — preferably the Western Band Association finals, which gives me a chance to see some of the finest marching bands in the state.
So it was great fun for me yesterday to attend the WBA competition at Central High School’s Koligian Stadium. (Because of rain, the schedule had to be revamped.) The bands I watched were very strong, with many moments of visual and musical beauty. Ayala High School of Chino Hills and James Logan High School of Union City duked it out to a first-place tie in the AAAAA (largest) division — a tie that was later broken in favor of Ayala per the rule book by considering high scores in specific judging categories. Both bands were amazing.
But the heartiest local congratulations go to El Diamante High School Marching Miners of Visalia, which placed first in the AAAA division, beating out a whopping 17 other bands from around the state. What’s more, El Diamante’s score of 90.95 meant it placed third overall among all the bands in the competition, including the bigger-division bands, just behind Ayala and Logan. El Diamante won top scores in its division in General Effect, Visual Effect and Music.
I know firsthand how many hours of hard work go into these shows. The levels of discipline, concentration, athleticism, teamwork and musicianship needed to put together a good looking show are sky high. The fact that high school students are able to put in that brutal rehearsal schedule — and still pull down good grades, as most do — is to be commended, indeed.
The WBA championship was also a chance to see a fun performance from the Fresno State Bulldog Marching Band, which offered a performance as the scores were being compiled:
I’ll get back to other scores in the WBA championship in a moment, but as long as we’re congratulating local bands, here’s another well-deserved nod. The Clovis West High School Band has had an impressive year as well. Clovis West didn’t compete in the WBA finals, but on another competition circuit, it attended two big events: the 2012 Bands of America Glendora Super-Regional on Oct. 27 (it placed fourth overall and first in the AAA class); and the 2012 Bands of America St. George (Utah) Regionals on Nov. 3 (it placed second overall and first in the AAA class). What a travel schedule!
Back to the Fresno competition: Other high-scoring local bands include Clovis North (third place, AA division), Clovis East (fourth place, AAA division), Clovis (fifth place, AAAA division), and Exeter Union (fifth place, A division). Congrats to all.
Here are the scores for the WBA championships in Fresno from the WBA website:
| AAAAA | ||
| 1 | James Logan (1st place tie) | 93.40 |
| 2 | Ayala HS (1st place tie) | 93.40 |
| 3 | Mission Viejo HS | 90.25 |
| 4 | Upland Highland Regiment | 89.85 |
| 5 | Amador Valley HS | 88.80 |
| 6 | Homestead HS | 87.95 |
| 7 | Rowland HS | 84.50 |
| 8 | Grants Pass High School Band & Auxilary | 82.20 |
| AAAA | ||
| 1 | El Diamante Marching Miners | 90.95 |
| 2 | Chino Hills HS Marching Band | 90.00 |
| 3 | Granite Bay Emerald Brigade | 89.45 |
| 4 | Nogales Noble Regiment | 86.50 |
| 5 | Clovis HS | 85.70 |
| 6 | Oak Grove High School Marching Band & guard | 85.20 |
| 7 | Westlake Regiment | 84.15 |
| 8 | Basha High School | 83.80 |
| 9 | Valencia HS Tiger Regiment | 83.75 |
| 10 | Valley Christian High School | 83.05 |
| 11 | Lemoore HS | 81.25 |
| 12 | La Quinta HS | 79.45 |
| 13 | Buchanan HS Band & Colorguard | 78.60 |
| 14 | Los Gatos HS Wildcat Marching Band & Guard | 78.15 |
| 15 | La Canada | 78.10 |
| 16 | Casa Grande | 76.25 |
| 17 | Bullard HS | 74.45 |
| 18 | Tulare Union Redskin Band & Colorguard | 71.55 |
| AAA | ||
| 1 | Trabuco Hills HS Thundering Mustangs | 90.40 |
| 2 | Rancho Cucamonga Marching Cougars | 90.25 |
| 3 | Los Alamitos HS Marching Band | 89.90 |
| 4 | Clovis East | 84.65 |
| 5 | Branham HS Royal Alliance | 84.60 |
| 6 | Chandler HS | 84.20 |
| 7 | Beyer HS | 83.30 |
| 8 | S. Pasadena HS Tiger Marching Band & Guard | 80.25 |
| 9 | Tulare Western | 77.70 |
| 10 | Torrance HS Tartar Band & Guard | 76.25 |
| 11 | Sanger HS | 73.60 |
| 12 | Edison High School Tiger Marching Band & Colorguard | 73.50 |
| 13 | Arroyo Grande Eagles Marching Band and Colorguard | 67.05 |
| AA | ||
| 1 | Live Oak Emerald Regime Band & Guard | 87.65 |
| 2 | Perry HS | 87.35 |
| 3 | Clovis North | 86.95 |
| 4 | Madera HS Marching Band & Guard | 83.05 |
| 5 | El Modena Vanguard | 82.85 |
| 6 | Los Altos HS Eagle Marching Band & Guard | 81.05 |
| 7 | Laguna Hills High School Marching Band and Colorguard | 80.55 |
| 8 | Adolfo Camarillo | 78.70 |
| 9 | Pacifica Mariner Band | 78.70 |
| 10 | Madera South HS Stallion Band | 75.60 |
| 11 | Kingsburg High School | 73.45 |
| 12 | James Enochs HS | 72.30 |
| 13 | Selma High School Black Bear Brigade | 72.25 |
| 14 | Golden West HS | 71.60 |
| 15 | Hanford HS Marching Band | 71.25 |
| 16 | Mt. Whitney Pioneer Marching Band | 66.00 |
| 17 | Mission Oak HS | 65.35 |
| 18 | Alhambra HS | 60.15 |
| A | ||
| 1 | Damien High School Spartan Regiment | 78.90 |
| 2 | Peninsula High School | 77.35 |
| 3 | The Kings Academy HS | 71.45 |
| 4 | Independence 76th Cavalry Band & Color Guard | 70.35 |
| 5 | Exeter Union | 70.05 |
| 6 | Modesto HS | 70.00 |
| 7 | Mater Dei HS Monarch Pagentry Corps | 68.65 |
| 8 | Ceres High School Marching Band | 67.75 |
| 9 | Los Banos HS | 65.20 |
| 10 | Chaminade HS | 64.15 |
| 11 | Santa Margarita HS | 63.90 |
| 12 | Thomas Downey HS | 60.30 |
Responses to "Hail to the marching bands, with shout-outs to El Diamante and Clovis West"
I really appreciate this article. Marching Band and Color Guard are often two performing arts/sports that dont often get the love that these very hard working young students deserve. Kudos to all the local High Schools that placed! (let’s get better Bullard!
)
Thank You! Thank You! Thank You! for this wonderful article. As a proud El Diamante color guard parent, it means a lot!!
Thirded! Thanks for keeping us up on local high school band tidings!
It really is true-once a bando (yes, that’s the new term) always a bando ! My husband and I were both involved as teens and had the pleasure of watching and supporting our two kids in band. The true dedication of the students and the faculty is tremendous and to read your article about it -heartwarming! Thanks!
“Bando,” eh? I like it. Thanks for keeping me up on the lingo.
Thanks you for your enthusiastic article. As a former president of the Lincoln HS Trojan Band’s boosters (Stockton) and having two children that spent 4 years each in the program I appreciate all of the work by the students, staff and parents. Congratulations to all!
Such good wholesome fun for all. It is a great way to spend a Saturday.
Thanks for this great recap. I agree that once a bando (love the new term!) always a bando. I’ve been away from the Central Valley for many years, but still love the pageantry and competition of the field. I live in Texas now, and still catch a show or two each season. Glad to see marching band is still strong in the Central Valley!
With a little more homework you would have found that the best marching band in Northern California is in Merced. The Golden Valley Cardinal Regime went undefeated in parade competition for 6+ years. That is quite an undefeated winning streak. This year, with a new director, their sweepstakes streak was broken in their first event in Antioch. However, they bounced back to start a new streak by winning sweepstakes at Cupertino and Santa Cruz. In addition, recently they’ve been in the Rose Parade (2009)and this Sunday will march in the Hollywood Christmas parade.
Congrats to Merced. Although calling them the best marching band in CA is not understanding what the activity involves. Marching Band is an umbrella term that includes bands that just perform at halftime of football games, bands that perform at parades, and bands that compete in field show competitions. Sometimes bands will do several or all of these things. With the field show competitions, there are circuits that have very advanced bands and circuits that have more of a beginning to intermediate level of bands. Merced may have done well at parades over the past several years, however the more advanced and sophisticated programs around the nation rarely perform in parades except for their own local Christmas or Veterans type parades. Instead these bands spend the bulk of their marching band season performing in field show competitions. The WBA circuit and the BOA circuit are the two circuits that the advanced bands in the state compete in with all other circuits being for beginning to intermediate programs. All of this brieng said, congrats go out to every music student and music teacher/instructor in the state. The countless hours they spend perfecting their art should be commended no matter what level they perform at.
Thanks for adding your perspective, Tom. When I was in high school, my band was strictly a parade band, and I loved it. But one of the things I looked forward to in college band was getting the chance to march in field shows. I know that the different styles of bands and the different competition circuits can confuse people who aren’t familiar with the intricacies of high-school marching competitions. Your explanation can make things clearer. I’m with you: Merced has a lot to be proud of.
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