Review: 2003 Kennedy Invitational Field Tournament

Kennedy High School Invitational Field Tournament (SCSBOA)
Glover Stadium
Anaheim, CA
October 4, 2003

Pre-show Thoughts: It was 10 years ago this first week of October that
I marched in my first high school marching band competition.  It was
the 7th Annual Magnolia High School "Preview of Champions" Field
Tournament, which evolved into the Kennedy High School Invitational
Field Tournament.  And so I sat in Glover Stadium, as a fan, thinking
to myself, "Wow...has it really been 10 years?"  I remember entering
the Fountain Valley High School "Band Room" the day of the show, and
seeing dozens of members polishing their instruments.  The
cheerleaders had created banners for our band wishing us good luck. 
The atmosphere was somewhat surreal.  I suppose every freshman has
felt this way somewhat on the day of their first competition.  I was a
little nervous, but above all, excited.  This was no ordinary football
game performance...this was a battle with people just like us.  When
we arrived at the La Palma Park parking lot I could not help but smell
those bus fumes.  Yeah, you know what I mean.  This docking bay for
bands from all over southern California was jam packed.  Some kids
were warming up, some kids were getting their instruments, some kids
were getting in uniform, and some kids were just getting off the bus. 
This party for band members was just starting.  Warming up in the dark
near some of the local retail stores in Anaheim was something else,
but when you near the monstrous bleachers of Glover Stadium your heart
drops.  You can hear, but rarely see the currently competing band on
the field.  You can hear the roar of the crowd.  You can see the
bright lights getting brighter, and brighter.  And then soon the time
comes.  There are thousands of people, all there to watch YOU.  When
you enter the field, you are slightly blinded by the stadium lights,
and when you regain sight you know.  From then on whatever happens
happens, and the rest is history.

Today was no different.  Another day in the life of high school
marching band, and for many the first show of the year.  The weather
was normal, the people running the show were friendly, and everything
(except for the stadium loudspeaker, perhaps) was set up properly for
marvelous show to come.

Before I get to my review, let me give you a little history about the
Magnolia/Kennedy "Preview of Champions."  This show is one of the
biggest first shows of the year, if not THE biggest first show of the
year in California; it is held annually at Glover Stadium which is
simply a football field with no track and metal bleachers that reach
high into the sky; it is common for 30 to 40 bands to compete at this
event per year; it is to some THE show to start the SCSBOA field
tournament season (even though there are many other SCSBOA shows going
on at about the same time); and interesting happenings seem to go on
here year after year after year.  Here, a short timeline on what has
happened:

1986 - The 1st Annual Magnolia High School "Preview of Champions" is
held as an "Evaluation Show Only."
1987 - Los Altos High School (from Hacienda Heights, CA) wins the
first Magnonia High School "Preview of Champions" when it is held as a
tournament.
1988 - Tournament not held
1989 - Los Altos defends their title, and continues to defend their
title for the next five years.
1993 - Etiwanda High School (from Rancho Cucamonga, CA), fresh off
their success at the Bands of America Grand National Championships in
1992, comes in 2nd to Los Altos.  Etiwanda does not return to this
show until 1995.
1995 - Etiwanda upsets Los Altos, which marks the first time a band
other than Los Altos has won the tournament.
1996 - Etiwanda wins.
1997 - Etiwanda wins.
1998 - Rubidoux wins.
1999 - Etiwanda wins.
2000 - Stockdale wins.  The last year the Magnolia High School
"Preview of Champions" is held.
2001 - The 1st Annual John F. Kennedy Invitational Field Tournament is
held.  Chino wins.  Upland is disqualified.
2002 - Upland wins.

Now, without further delay, here is my review of the 2003 Kennedy High
School Invitational Field Tournament.  I have written comments for all
bands that competed that day (as well as the host band).  Please note
that I am not a judge, and nor have I ever been a judge.  However, my
knowledge of the high school marching band activity comes from
marching with a high school marching band, watching/analyzing high
school marching bands from across the nation (from places as far as
Texas and New York), marching with two drum and bugle corps, and
taking some music courses at the university level.  I score and place
bands using Bands of America model.  You will notice that I give my
score, the actual score (if announced), my placement, the actual
placement (if announced), and my placement overall (a la BOA).  In my
opinion, no high school marching band entity judges high school
marching bands in field show competition better than Bands of America.

Class 1A

Whittier Christian High School
La Habra, CA
Repertoire: West Side Story suite: Maria/Cool; One Hand, One Heart;
Finale.
Comments: This band had predominantly red and cream uniforms with gold
plumes.  Their first formation appeared to be "I" shaped, with the
battery percussion up front.  The center line expands with an
explosion of music.  After the first section, the band takes an
appropriate bow, and continues with the mysterious sounds of "West
Side Story" with mysterious motion.  Marching technique was all over
the place, and they somewhat kept up with the drum major.  Their big
standstill company front was powerful, as was the spliting up of the
company front into five separate "ray" lines with feet apart and
blasts of sound to the end.  There was a long delay after this segment
of the show (which kind of slowed their momentum, I thought), and then
the band director took over for the drum major.  The intervals in the
arc were pretty nice!  Superb handle on the music here!  What is with
all the lyres, though?  Come on, kids, get this stuff memorized and be
impressive.  The ending was abrupt, but expected being that this was
likely their first field show tournament.  Overall, this was a fine
show that needs some major detail work.  Precision in everything is
the key.  Don not hold back.
My Score: 38.90
Actual Score: 64.25
My ClassPlacement: 3rd
Actual Class Placement: 2nd
My Overall Placement: 34th

Anaheim High School
Anaheim, CA
Repertoire: "Russian Sailors Dance", "Hymn from Red October" and
"Russian Easter Overture".
Comments: This band displayed standard marching technique as they
entered the field.  The white stripes down the sides of their legs
were crisp when they needed to be.  The instrumentalists wore mostly
navy blue uniforms, with a hint of white and gold.  The auxiliary wore
mostly black with a flashy gold tool.  The sound of the bass could be
felt during the opening of their show.  These kids appeared to be
grasping the challenge of their show and working it to their advantage
quite well.  The lines that moved across the field were quite
straight.  The color guard with their purple capes added color to the
show, but better choreography needs to be instituted.  Super work with
the repetition tuba players!  Trumpets, try not to let the field make
the music.  (You guys sounded "bumpy", you see?)  The "Easter
Symphony" part of their show was strong.  The pass-through some of the
wind players did was tweaked, but nice recovery!  The end of their
show was right on.  These kids nailed it.
My Score: 44.00
Actual Score: 61.15
My Class Placement: 1st
Actual Class Placement: 3rd
My Overall Placement: 30th

Taft High School
Taft, CA
Repertoire: Selection from "West Side Story"
Comments: This band had one of the largest pits in Class 1A.  The
guard wore all red, while everyone else was in uniform.  The uniforms
were blue and white with a gold belly, and included aussies with with
white feathers.  Near the far right corner of the field, the band
started their show.  That opening statement seemed muffled because of
their positioning.  I like the fact that they varied their volume, and
were attempting some serious moves.  The excitement level at the end
of the first movement was high, especially with the pounding of the
mallets up front.  Staying in step was an issue in the beginning of
the second movement, and the music was a little "off" as well. 
However, they seemed to recover in the "Cool" segment of their show,
with awkward sounding yet dark sounding music that fit the "West Side
Story" film atmosphere well.  The final notes of "Cool" were a
surprise, which seemed to please the crowd.  The percussion feature
featured some pretty solid arm movements by the wind players, but of
course could always be improved.  The final formation was a diagonal
that was quite straight, with super musical aspects here as well.
My Score: 40.20
Actual Score: 64.25
My Class Placement: 2nd
Actual Class Placement: 1st
My Overall Placement: 33rd 

Class 2A

Los Alamitos High School
Los Alamitos, CA
Repertoire: Fanfare for the Common Man, Appalachian Spring (Episode
7), Hoedown, Appalachian Spring (Episode 2), Appalachian Finale.
Comments: Los Alamitos High School had the musicians in dark uniforms.
 They wore black and blue, with a red sash.  The auxiliary wore
western style costumes, complete with cowboy hats.  I was extremely
impressed by the opening of their show, which cut like a razor in
clarity, added with the thundering sounds of the percussion.  Great
marching technique from almost every member, and when there was not
great marching technique, I saw that at least the effort was great. 
This band was at a completely different level compared to the three
bands before it.  The movement that had four auxiliary members
performing with rifles on four red boxes was on target.  The "cow
spot" flags fit the theme of the music, and handled well.  And of
course there was, "Beef!"  Ha ha!  All of those who have seen the TV
ad in the past will know what I mean.  The next movement had a
dynamite trumpet soloist who hit the mark with his exagerated squeals.
 What a rock solid show!  Very entertaining, but more than that, very
precise!
My Score: 52.40
Actual Score: 72.40
My Class Placement: 1st
Actual Class Placement: 2nd
My Overall Placement: 18th

Fullerton High School
Fullerton, CA
Repertoire: You're a Good Man Charlie Brown; Happiness; Linus and
Lucy; Friend Like Me
Comments: Five simple backdrops were placed around the field depicting
environmental scenery.  What was prominent on all of the backdrops was
brown dirt and green plants.  The wind players were gathered in five
different areas of the field and ended up swooping the field into one
solid formation.  The auxiliary, in shiney red and black, did a
marvelous job dancing, and were a proud highlight to the show.  The
music was strong in regards to volume, but specific note impact seemed
skewed.  Clearer music, rather that loud music, would be a sound plus.
 I noticed the marching was pretty well done, but more emphasis could
be placed on marching technique than on formation at this point.  The
Charlie Brown music had a sweet rhythm to it, but they need to spice
it up.  Okay, the trumpet soloist spiced it up a bit...nice.  The
decrease in volume by the winds and portrayed by the auxiliary was
effective, for sure, and would be even more effective if the wind
players got involved visually here as well.  The final tune seemed to
be on autopilot, which was not good, but not bad either.  I guess this
means the ending is a work in progress.  Solid work overall, though. 
The was some originality to this show.
My Score: 44.80
Actual Score: 67.65
My Class Placement: 3rd
Actual Class Placement: 5th
My Overall Placement: 29th

La Puente High School
La Puente, CA
Repertoire: (Not Listed)
Comments: La Puente High School, in their classic orange and black,
took the field with laser-like precision.  The clarinets up front
appeared to be very disciplined, with their the instruments completely
horizontal.  (Nice carriage, clarinets.)  The opening of the show was
slow, but immaculate in the field of control.  There were things
happening all the time in the show, and you just had to watch and
listen for them.  For instance, one tuba entrance was quite
noticeable, but appropriate.  The movement during the music was
accurate, but wasy, easy, easy!  The whole show was compact, staged in
the front and center of the field.  Of course they sounded great,
because there was nearly nothing to their marching except for a few
cross-throughs.  The Korean Folk Song medley could not get any better
than it was, but the second half was a little more sloppy.  Way to get
back into the groove, though.  The percussion feature sounded uniform,
and the wind players had great opportunities for visual flair, but did
not take advantage of it.  The rotating circle seemed perfect, as did
the collapse into the line, but clean does not always equal great. 
(Remember than, drill writers.)  The backfield music during Riverdance
and the company front that followed were beautiful.  This is a
beautiful show, but I wanted more.  No more playing it safe, okay?
My Score: 48.90
Actual Score: 72.40
My Class Placement: 2nd
Actual Class Placement: 1st
My Overall Placement: 25th

Colton High School
Colton, CA
Repertoire: Celebrations, Respect, Song Without Words and Joy
Comments: This band in brown and black began their show facing the
front in a block formation, which was slightly problematic given that
the lines were not straight.  (Intended?)  And off they went!  The
woodwind music was very impressive, as was the supportive lower brass.
 Okay, low brass, okay!  But do not overblow.  Lots and lots of
flanking manuevers, done domino style, but intentional?  Whatever the
case may be, it seemed a little out of whack.  The percussion feature,
featuring an all battery percussion line, was rockin'.  And yes, the
marching members were flashy enough.  Go sax man, go!  Oh and this
saxophonist was the drum major, too, handling the smooth musical style
well.  These kids moved slightly better than they sounded.  I am sure
if they work on both simultaneously, the results would be dramatic. 
They did not lack entertainment value, because I enjoyed what I saw
and heard.  But they did lack the accuracy that would put them in the
running for the best in their class.  Solid effort all around.  I like
the double flag movement by the color guard, followed by multicolor
flags that flew through a collapsing rectangle of wind players near
the end of their show.
My Score: 41.90
Actual Score: 68.05
My Class Placement: 4th
Actual Class Placement: 4th
My Overall Placement: 31st

Garces High School
Bakersfield, CA
Repertoire:  The Star of Dreams...Part I, II, and III
Comments: All the way from Bakersfield, California, Garces High School
had the pit set up on the left area of the field next to the wind
players.  The triumphant sounding opening did not seem triumphant
enough, I felt, but it was very precise.  The beginning of their show
looked and sounded a bit unorganized, but they seemed to gel together
by the time they got into the upside down "F".  Perhaps the pit behind
the winds kind of muted the effect of making them seem bigger than
they were.  Strange that I would want more percussion, but true.  The
slow ballad type piece was one you could contemplate with, but needs
to emit more emotion.  A synthesizer might help these kids out a lot! 
The french horn solo led to a solid wave of musical notes, but it
seemed like these folks were afraid to play.  Do not be afraid...put
it to us!  The end of their show was kind of weak, but they finished
it off with some success.
My Score: 41.00
Actual Score: 68.70
My Class Placement: 5th
Actual Class Placement: 3rd
My Overall Placement: 32nd

Class 3A

Don Antonio Lugo High School
(Not Listed), CA
Repertoire: (Not Listed)
Comments: In a curvey formation that stretched from side A 20 to the
side B 45, this band prepared for their show.  Their brilliant white
plumes went nicely with their helmets.  I noticed right off the bat
that their marching was careful, yet secure.  The second familiar tune
they played was accented by the horn angle play.  The low brass
section had a sweet, full sound.  I was a little concerned by the lack
of challenge in their show, but they did include some small details
that enlarged their show, like crossing their legs at a halt, and
again using the horns to make a visual impact.  The criss-crossing
lines near the side A 40 and 50 was executed to a "t", and though the
music did not move me much emotionally, these musicians did not seem
to miss a note.  Step 1 has been accomplised...now to step 2, which is
to shape the music in ways that has not been shaped before.  This is
fun music, so have some fun with it!  Do something that sticks in the
minds of the audience.  The backdrops, which are nicely done, are not
enough to carry these guys.  This was not a bad show, and has lots and
lots of potential.
My Score: 48.70
Actual Score: 72.35
My Class Placement: (Did Not Place)
Actual Class Placement: 2nd
My Overall Placement: 27th

Edison High School
Huntington Beach, CA
Repertoire: Theme from Batman, Flying Sequence from Superman and
Costume Montage, and Theme from Spiderman
Comments: Edison High School had sharp looking cadet-styled green and
black uniforms, with tiny accents of white and gold.  The auxiliary
wore sleek looking gold and red tops, with black pants.  The low brass
marks time and builds the mood of the Batman movie theme without
missing a beat.  The formation intervals were off a bit in the opening
formation, but they seemed to control their intervals throughout the
show pretty well.  The sound they produced was splendid.  They need to
play through all of their notes, and that is something they can
handle.  This band generated excitement with ease, but as I now read
this word "ease" I understand that this can also be a negative for
them.  They handled their show with grace and style, but what is
something I have not seen before?  Not much, but...and I do mean
but...I cannot dissect this solid performance too much, because did
well with what they had.  The show was a little short, leaving me
wanting more.  However, I am sure more is to come.
My Score: 50.00
Actual Score: (Not Announced)
My Class Placement: 3rd
Actual Class Placement: (Did Not Place)
My Overall Placement: 23rd

Canyon High School
Canyon Country, CA
Repertoire: "Love Fantasy" - Isn't She Lovely, Never My Love, Love
Shack, After the Love has Gone/Fantasy
Comments: The attention to detail by this group was evident from the
beginning.  Intervals across the field were pretty even.  Yeah, there
were a few spaces more open than others, but the mature posture and
the opening step of the show seemed to cover it all up.  As the show
progressed, I could not help but find myself entranced by this very
familiar and fan-friendly music.  The first saxophone soloist really
added a touch of jazz to the first movement (that needed it, by the
way).  Superb triangle work in the second movement, and great timing
by the whole percussion section.  The "Love Shack" movement was not as
groovy as I thought it would be.  Much of this show moved at a slug's
pace, which did not generate the excitement it needed.  But the kids
worked hard at dotting every "i" and crossing every "t".  And again,
the solos during this show helped this group big time.  You cannot
deny music that is pleasing to the ear, and this group had it AND did
well with it.
My Score: 49.50
Actual Score: 71.00
My Class Placement: 4th
Actual Class Placement: 5th
My Overall Placement: 24th 

Oceanside High School
Oceanside, CA
Repertoire: Forte (Estancia, The Prayer and Marimba Spiritual).  Drill
Design and Music Arrangements by Gary Backlund.
Comments: These new age cadet-style uniforms of the musicians really
caught my eye, and even better, the first triangle formation appeared
to be picture perfect.  So the first impression was right on.  How was
the rest?  These kids had a dynamite performance.  My eyes were
transfixed on the movement, and every aspect of the movement seemed to
fulfill my "personal checklist": Super posture, technique, movement in
and out of formations...shall I go on?  One saxophone snap was not
together in the beginning, but it happens.  The baritone and trumpet
duet was momentous.  Well, the show changed moods appropriately
without any scratches it seemed, and then...more excellence.  I like a
good saxophone soli, and that is what I got.  These kids were not
afraid to play.  The only down aspect of this show was that it was too
abrupt.  If they could have done a little more, any more, I am sure
their score would have gone up.  But never mind the technical stuff. 
These guys were great!
My Score: 53.90
Actual Score: 76.25
My Class Placement: 1st
Actual Class Placement: 1st
My Overall Placement: 16th

Glendora High School
Glendora, CA
Repertoire: "Elements" - Fire, Earth, Air, Water
Comments: Mixing tradition with innovation, Glendora took the field,
Scottish attire and all.  I really dug the opening effect of the show,
which drew me in completely, with shifting diagonals that seemed to
hypnotize, and mysterious music that grew and grew and did not let up.
 Musically, this band was on fire, with musical complexities unmatched
by any group before them to this point.  Excellent marching with white
shoes does not hurt, and these kids did it.  The intervals were close
to perfect, but not quite...yet.  The second movement was full of
surprises, including a marvelous fortzando.  The percussion feature
had a very noticeable dynamic change, and exploded with notes that
clicked in unison.  Though the wind players executed their drill
superbly (and without effort, it seemed), I was hoping for some
special effects, a la neat-o dance moves, but alas I was let down. 
Moving on, the ending was about as strong as it could be, and just
when I thought it was over it got better and better.  Splendid work by
all, and congratulations to them for their recent success at the Los
Angeles County Fair.
My Score: 55.00
Actual Score: 76.75
My Class Placement: Sweepstakes Class 1A/2A/3A
Actual Class Placement: Sweepstakes Class 1A/2A/3A
My Overall Placement: 15th

Tesoro High School
Las Flores, CA
Repertoire: "The Beatles" - Magical Mystery Tour, Pennylane, Yesterday
and Eleanor Rigby.
Comments: Two big X's on the field collapsed, then stopped.  This was
the band's first year in field show competition, and they indeed had
an admirable first showing.  The music was from the Beatles, and
performed adequately.  Marching was average, at best.  The tuba
introduction to the second movement was "there", and from then on the
band seemed to demonstrate the basics of performance, including the
ever-so-overused square block.  Ooh!  There we go!  Something new. 
Great lunges, and equally so, a heart-felt trumpet solo.  When the
band gets into formations of straight lines that expose diagonals,
make sure those diagonals are straight, too.  The end of their show
was a played at a halt, and right on the mark with accuracy, dynamics,
intonation, and all.  This was a very mediocre show, but I am sure
they have a big future ahead of them.  Congratulations on a fine first
show!
My Score: 45.00
Actual Score: 71.30
My Class Placement: (Did Not Place)
Actual Class Placement: 4th
My Overall Placement: 28th

Serrano High School
Phelan, CA
Repertoire: (Not Listed)
Comments: This band seemed to cover the field in black.  The wind
players wore very stylish tuxedos, and the color guard wore a kind of
dress colored black and white.  The flute solo was amplified, but
probably could have been amplified a little more.  The mellophone
soloist was a little shakey, however.  The music was supremely
powerful.  Too bad the marching did not match the power of the music. 
What a commanding performance by the two trumpet soloists and the
trombone soloist.  Line rotations and accuracy of diagonals were all
right, but again marching was not on target.  Marching technique was
nothing to complain about, though.  Everyone seemed to know what was
going on around them quite well.  The drum major seemed pleased with
the performance, and shouted out with joy at the end of their musical
masterpiece.
My Score: 51.00
Actual Score: 72.20
My Class Placement: 2nd
Actual Class Placement: 3rd
My Overall Placement: 22nd

Troy High School
Fullerton, CA
Repertoire: "With Great Power, Come Great Responsibility" presenting
music from the movie hits Spiderman, Superman and Batman
Comments: The wind players wore black cadet-style uniforms, while the
guard wore (almost) all black, and the pit was in varying uniforms,
including one dressed as Superman (or, more appropriately, Supergirl).
 The show seemed to rev up like an engine, with showmanship from the
pit section to the max.  This group certainly made great use of the
field, but did not seem to project as much as I would like them to. 
The snap ending of the wind players during part of their show was
spotless, but the moving battery line seemed to draw attention to
themselves and killed it.  Ooh, tone quality in the second movement
needs to be there.  Control, winds, control.  Okay, not bad.  The "V"
formation was successful, as was the musical coordination with the
drum major.  Outstanding job by all.  The end of their show was quiet,
but put proper closure to it.
My Score: 48.80
Actual Score: (Not Announced)
My Class Placement: 5th
Actual Class Placement: (Did Not Place)
My Overall Placement: 26th

Class 4A

Warren High School
Downey, CA
Repertoire: "Into the Raging River" Arranged by Lewis Xlorfleet
Comments: The Warren High School Marching Band had wind players
assuming a backwards "L" formation to warm up in, while in a diagonal
were auxiliary members in black and aqua-blue.  A trumpet soloist
stands next to a color guard member with a yellow sphere attached 3/4
down from the top of a pole.  The bottom of the backwards "L" becomes
wavey after the warm-up, and the side does the same during a
mysterious pit feature and a flute solo.  The clarinet feature was
executed with precision, followed by the raw power of the brass and
woodwind players combined.  When that block marches across the field
with small step size, there is no reason the dress should not be right
on.  (It was off a little, but not bad.)  Nice ascending and
descending notes by the trumpet and mellophone duet.  Ooh!  At the end
of that big chord make sure the low brass sound is the last sound to
be heard.  Excellent ripple effect before the next movement of the
show.  The rifle choreography in the backfield needs to be tighter. 
Neat manipulation of sound via movement before the percussion feature,
and yes, an ending overflowing with strength that leaves you wanting
more.  These guys did the job, no doubt.
My Score: 58.90
Actual Score: 76.35
My Class Placement: Sweepstakes Class 4A
Actual Class Placement: 4th
My Overall Placement: 10th

Magnolia High School
Anaheim, CA
Repertoire: (Not Listed)
Comments: The Magnolia High School Marching Band got into a spiral
formation on the field before the show began, and then the drum major
called the band to attention.  The music seemed to flow clean, with a
few exceptions.  I noticed some shakey postur from many of the
woodwind players who were not facing the front field properly during a
slide.  Intervals were widely uneven.  The percussion feature had a
few flams, but some consistency was evident.  Beautiful finishing
touch by the wind players at the end of the percussion feature.  Wind
players, really work those toes during the ballad of your show,
because you sound great.  During the slower, emotional section of
their show, I noticed the formatins seem to better come alive.  The
wind players got in two arcs to finish off the show at a standstill. 
Yeah, they sounded great halted, but perhaps it would have been more
effective to finish the show at the end of the ballad.
My Score: 52.00
Actual Score: (Not Announced)
My Class Placement: (Did Not Place)
Actual Class Placement: (Did Not Place)
My Overall Placement: 21st

Valencia High School
Placentia, CA
Repertoire: "Celebration" - Themes by David Schaeffer.  Arranged by
Dr. Collette Hausey.
Comments: Backdrops that appeared to be orange trees cluttered the
back right portion of the field.  Oranges!  (You know, the VALENCIA
orange.)  Valencia was celebrating 70 years of existence.  The
Valencia High School musicians were in their spiffy newer uniforms,
and the color guard wore orange overalls over an orange undergarment. 
The opening of the show was quite intense, and then things got
relaxed.  Smooth, very smooth.  I could not be more impressed with
their warm sound.  Excellent work sousaphones, although one player on
the end needs to bring the side of the horn up more.  The
criss-crossing lines did not appear to be perfection yet, but they
were close.  Wow, almost non-stop sound could be heard when the band
faced backfield, but I felt they could have been a little softer to
really emphasize what they were playing.  Their show ended in a
standstill company front.  Their show was short, obviously, because
they have more work to do.  But I like what I saw.  Superb work by the
auxiliary: The sabre and rifle tosses were most noteable.
My Score: 58.50
Actual Score: 78.45
My Class Placement: 1st 
Actual Class Placement: Sweepstakes Class 4A
My Overall Placement: 11th

California High School
Whittier, CA
Repertoire: Moulin Rouge
Comments: California High School wore predominantly white tops over
blue bottoms.  They got off to a great start, and
then...slowed...things...down.  In no time, though, they stormed the
front of the field with sound.  The feet spread apart before the big
hit to the box was not exact, and needs to be exact in order for them
to be in the game.  Again, details count (especially when coming on
after Warren and Valenica), and the lines marching across the field
need to be straight.  The trombonist should be commended for his
performance, which was nothing short of pleasing the crowd.  When the
band sings, they should really open up their mouths to project.  It
pains me to see some members not making the effort to sing.  Use those
vocal chords!  They obviously have a lot of work to do on the show,
given that they are at a standstill for what seems to be half of their
show.  But hey, they did not hold back musically, and they seemed to
know every note played.  I would like to see them when more of their
show is complete.
My Score: 52.20
Actual Score: 74.25
My Class Placement: 5th
Actual Class Placement: 4th
My Overall Placement: 20th

Irvine High School
Irvine, CA
Repertoire: Mr. Roboto, One Hand One Heart, Late in the Evening and
Hall of the Mountain King
Comments: The band facing front field had few problems, and therefore
my first impression of this group was positive.  The wind players were
strong on bringing out the main medley of the first movement.  I would
have preferred not to see some members at a halt, though, but I am
glad they did not mark time.  The more movement the better. 
Formations as I glanced side to side were quite strong.  The graceful
dancing of the color guard with the deep blue flags was eye-opening,
and they were, of course, featured nicely when the winds were halte
and emitting a more beautiful than ever "One Hand, One Heart."  The
technical ability of the wind players was superb, but again I must
emphasize hey do the tough stuff when standing still.  Move and halt,
move and halt...I see a pattern forming.  When they do move, though, I
must compliment their technique.  I do hope they "fill up" their halts
with some sort of choreography in the future.  And I do not mean to
imply that they did not do anything remotely difficult.  I was one
pass-through by two lines of wind players that was almost there.  And
the rest of their show was right on.  Their show had a nice feel to
it, and they ended it at a high point.
My Score: 53.00
Actual Score: 75.60
My Class Placement: 3rd 
Actual Class Placement: 3rd
My Overall Placement: 17th

Loara High School
Anaheim, CA
Repertoire: Rhapsody in Blue
Comments: 6 huge backdrops seem to highlight the arc of brass players
on the field up front.  There was a little trouble with the
amplification of the clarinet soloist in the beginning, but the sound
kicked in and all was well.  This was a very musical show, with much
of the first part revolving around the soloist.  The intervals of this
band were quite close to each other, and much of the show was
performed in the front portion of the field between the 30 yard lines.
 During the heavenly sounding second movement, when the wind players
were at a standstill, some of the backdrops were turned around to show
Disneyesque pictures.  The synthesizers did a nice job of starting the
engines of the percussion feature, which was performed with finesse,
altough one of the snare drummers lost a stick.  This show was short,
but professionally done.  The true highlights of this show was the
auxiliary and the percussion.
My Score: 57.90
Actual Score: 77.50
My Class Placement: 2nd
Actual Class Placement: 1st
My Overall Placement: 12th
    
Mayfair High School
Lakewood, CA
Repertoire: The Music of John Rutter; Gloria - Movements 1 and 3 / Pie
Jesu
Comments: The band was in a scatter formation to the right, with two,
almost parallel diagonals to the right of that.  A gentle sound began
this show, followed by a loud introduction.  Some of the movement near
the front of the field was sketchy, and at least one halt had movement
into it.  As far as the demand was concerned, I was very pleased to
see some challenging maneuvers being performed, especially one of the
maneuvers near the end of the first movement.  But even though these
kids are fast moving and putting on a feast for the eyes, they need to
remember to put on a feast for the ears as well!  Air control needs to
be stressed big time.  Aaah, but the second movement was a different
story.  Great bottom sound at the end of that movement.  The entrance
of the woodwinds in the third movement seemed a little timid, but the
brass players seemed to make up for that.  Keep it together guys...do
not let it fall apart.  Obviously, these kids are not afraid to play,
but they cannot let their show get away from them.  Alright, those
diagonals that rotated were marvelous.  They got to the end of their
show with minor scratches, and boy did they do it with a bang!
My Score: 52.25
Actual Score: 73.80
My Class Placement: 4th
Actual Class Placement: 5th
My Overall Placement: 19th

Class 5A

John A. Rowland High School
Rowland Heights, CA
Repertoire: Music by Bernard Hermann: Night Piece for Saxophone
Orchestra, On Dangerous Ground, Scene D'Amour and Wild Ride
Comments: A horde of black invaded the field.  Most of the band wore
white shirts and blue ties, with long trench coat like jackets.  The
auxiliary wore short skirts with the color of their top varying from
person to person.  The primary formation was the wind players
surrounding the field almost fully.  The percussionists have their
day, as the wind players march towards each other to the middle of the
field.  Then things slow down with a steamy jazz sound from the
trumpet soloist.  After a smooth going first section, the drum line
took over, thundering away with exactness.  I was watching the feet of
the wind players very closely and noticed a lot of flat feet.  (Sorry,
the black does not cover it up.)  Flutes, get those instruments flat
towards the sideline!  Okay, this band sounded alright as a whole, and
besides the music, the marching was not that bad.  After the trumpet
soloist did his thing during the ballad, I was wondering if the band
was going to march again...and they did not.  The intervals from
person to person were even were even in some areas of the field, and
uneven in other areas.  I really like the music, which kind of
reminded me of classic film noir.  The end of the show could have had
a little more pizazz, but they pulled off their performance with
class.  They did a nice job with their show, despite its briefness.  I
tend to notice how much momentum a group has during their performance,
and Rowland really did not do much to inspire at his point.  Perhaps
there is a secret that will be revealed later in their season.
My Score: 63.00
Actual Score: 73.35
My Class Placement: 2nd
Actual Class Placement: 5th
My Overall Placement: 17th

West High School
Torrance, CA
Repertoire: Opener: 42nd Street / Lullaby of Broadway; Production:
We're in the Money / Shuffle Off To Buffalo / Dames; Closer: I Only
Have Eyes For You / 42nd Street Reprise / We're in the Money Reprise.
Comments: In long straight lines stretching horizontally across the
backfield, I noticed white stripes clicking straight at each step on a
brown background.  These were the colors of West.  In extremely
symmetrical fashion, forms flowered.  Wow!  The auxiliary girls up
front certainly caught the attention of the audience with their tap
dancing routine on their personal discs.  Mind you, the color guard
also manipulated the location of these discs as well.  The musicians,
sad to say, were overshadowed somewhat by the tap dancing act, but
they had a strong sound that complimented this.  West favored more
curve-like forms, I noticed, and they were quite successful.  There
were some slight interval problems, but nothing that held them back. 
Outstanding interplay between the low brass and the trumpets before
the auxiliary mirror moments.  Like Rowland, they had a short show. 
Their show was clean, but almost too clean, as if they failed to
venture out to new territories.  This was truly a showcase of the
auxiliary, and the auxiliary was indeed good.  But what about everyone
else?  Everyone has to be considered.  Maybe bringing the wind players
or percussion up front once in a while, perhaps even encircling the
dancers...now THAT would bring some unity to this performance.
My Score: 57.50
Actual Score: 75.55
My Class Placement: 4th
Actual Class Placement: 2nd
My Overall Placement: 13th

Esperanza High School
Anaheim, CA
Repertoire: The Quintessence of de Meij - a musical of Giacomo
Casanova - Arranged by Bryan Woody.  Five Movements 1. Prologue 2.
Court Life 3. Arrest 4. Escape 5. Triumph.
Comments: Five beautifully polished sousaphones were the highlight of
the beginning formation, which was composed of varying lines and
curves.  (Yes, that little bit of extra polish DOES work!)  A warm,
dark sound from the brass players swamped the stadium.  A medieval
sounding trumpet soli nearly gave me goosebumps.  Great work, people. 
One suggestion to the fine trombonists as I focus on the visual
aspects of the show: keep the horn angle parallel to the ground, or
slightly higher.  Interesting that this group marched concert french
horns...but it sure made this group look like symphonic pros.  Geez,
these kids had great breath support, as the sound seemed non-stop. 
The percussionists were almost robotic in their feature, which led the
way to awesome rifle motions and more great sounds.  Everything seemed
to lock in place for these kids.  All they need is some more visual
brightness to make their musical selection really shine.  Lets see
some jazz-running, or blind pass-throughs that scream "danger!" or at
least (dare I say?) more wind player horn movements or full body dance
movements.  There is no rule in SCSBOA that says you have to have a
"5A" performance in the 5A division.  Do not be afraid to try new
things!
My Score: 65.20
Actual Score: 77.10
My Class Placement: 1st
Actual Class Placement: 1st
My Overall Placement: 6th

La Canada High School
La Canada, CA
Repertoire: Call of the Mountain (Joseph Curiale); Adelina de Maya (J.
Curiale); I Have a Love (L. Bernstein); Joy (J. Curiale)
Comments: The pit wore sailor costumes, and near the pit was a prop
that looked like a dock for boats.  The winds and percussion wore
their classic uniforms, while the auxiliary wore their classic
uniforms, while the auxiliary wore modern-looking light and dark blue
costumes.  The low blowing of ths ship's horn was made by a baritone
saxophonist.  some of the wind players did not seem to have balance
when they were marching.  Okay, I could see they were improving
somewhat as the show went along.  Confidence is important, you see? 
Musically, few could criticize.  However, the solid sound seemed too
solid, and perhaps even predictable.  Volume variation does not hurt
once in a while.  There was some movement occuring after some of the
halts, which goes back to my "balance issues" statement.  Make those
long sleek legs lock on the backwards motion, and find that center of
gravity pushing yourself forward slightly as you pretend a string is
pulling you backwards from behind.  The trumpet soloist during the
beautiful Bernstein ballad was phenomenal, and ooh, the groups of wind
players striking different poses was fine, fine, fine.  The wind
players finished their show in an awkward looking arc at a halt, which
is a no-no!  This is their last impression visually.  Forgetting about
the visual flaws, I must admit this group sounds superb when they are
not in motion.  Hmmm...maybe this should tell them something about
themselves.  Okay, okay, perhaps I was a little hard on them, but when
every band starts to look like each other, what can I do?  I cannot
emphasize enough how important it is to stick out in the minds of the
judges (in a good way, of course!).  West did this, but in the process
somewhat covered up the performance of the musicians.
My Score: 57.20
Actual Score: 73.85
My Class Placement: 5th
Actual Class Placement: 4th
My Overall Placement: 14th

Savanna High School
Anaheim, CA
Repertoire: (Not Listed)
Comments: Separate circles of wind players were placed in different
areas across the field.  The auxiliary wore all white dresses.  The
introduction of this show was as clear as could be, and right with the
director.  The movement of the members was quite spotless.  This easy
going production was not as easy as it seemed, with varying technical
aspects to their music.  They seemed to have a little difficulty
during the backfield portion of the show.  Wow!  Rock hard bursts of
musical energy from the trumpets at the end of the first movement. 
All of the soloists of this band, too, I might add, were "above and
beyond" in the area of confidence, which really helped make this show
happen.  The marchers spread out across the field within seconds
during one part of their show.  I like how the "collapsed" wind
players at full blast disappear into a trombone solo.  Excellent
transition.  They had a great first outing with their new band
director.  Sure, they did not look like Capistrano Valley at the peak
of their game, but they will change with time I am sure.  But for now,
what a bold first step.  I think it is all about the band adapting to
the director and the director adapting to the band.
My Score: 62.70
Actual Score: 74.10
My Class Placement: 3rd 
Actual Class Placement: 3rd
My Overall Placement: 8th

Class 6A

Walnut High School
Walnut, CA
Repertoire: (Not Listed)
Comments: In pastel blue and black, this very large marching band took
the field and set up in a swirly formation.  In fact, this group even
had some "extras" in the right front corner of the field. 
(Alternates.)  The auxiliary wore gold tops, some with pants and some
with skirts and boots.  Man, did their opening statement make the ears
bleed, or what?  The James Bond theme was a welcome tune to hear, but
it was played at a snail's pace.  There were lots of follow-the-leader
snake-like formations going on.  It was surely dramatic that this band
was huge and they were able to produce a huge sound, but that seemed
to be their only weapon.  I do not know what else to write about this
group except that they kept plugging away at their director's command.
 One early tuba note kind of marred the third tune.  The giant rhombus
marching diagonally across the field was a cool effect.  The seductive
dancing of the drill team along with the playfulness of the flag
twirlers drew the audience's attention to the front of the field, with
the background of crowd-pleasing music.  Not a top-notch show, but a
fun show.
My Score: 62.00
Actual Score: 74.85
My Class Placement: 5th
Actual Class Placement: 5th
My Overall Placement: 9th

Ruben S. Ayala High School
Chino Hills, CA
Repertoire: 'Indian Summer', 'Falling Leaf' and 'Cold Fog' (All music
is composed by John Meehan, Ike Jackson and Caleb Rothe)
Comments: Ayala came to play.  High, dangerous looking ladders were
set up on various partsof the field, holding the flags of the
auxiliary.  A flute soloist is on one of these ladders, ready to do
her thing.  The wind players beging their show set up in five vertical
lines, plus a few mini diagonal fomations to the upper left.  A soft
note extends through the air, followed by a solid sounding wind
section.  The synthesizer really adds some texture to this show, and
the first musical cut-off is crystal clear.  Power to the woodwinds,
and they strut their stuff.  I felt as if I was listening to a concert
band on the field.  Out of nowhere are the saxophones, and
well...you'll have to see for yourself.  The somewhat minimalist
percussion feature was hot!  I had the shivers the whole time I was
listening to this group.  Are you ready for some stiff competition, or
what?  These kids will have to do much, much more visually to lock in
victory, and what I mean by this does not refer to individual and
ensemble marching.  They will be facing many bands this year that will
get on their hands and knees (literally!) to win.  Motion to the
extreme might be to their advantage, but I know it is early.  What a
wonderful show!  This band has jumped leaps and bounds through the
years, and I am scared to think this is only their first show!
My Score: 72.90
Actual Score: 83.10
My Class Placement: Sweepstakes Class 5A/6A
Actual Class Placement: 3rd
My Overall Placement: 1st

Etiwanda High School 
Etiwanda, CA
Repertoire: XpressivO: contrast and contradiction an original
composition by Steve Schimdt.  1. Dissonant Harmony 2. Conflict
Resolution 3. Smooth Angles 4. Win, Lose and Draw.
Comments: Etiwanda had long whit tarps stretching across the field
creating a diamond sketch, because the points of the diamond were
crossed.  The wind players and battery percussion are on these tarps,
and when the show begins they perform complex movement that is sudden
and interesting and difficult to describe.  Their movement sure grabs
your attention, though.  Heart-stopping wind and percussion sound
follows.  The auxiliary seems only to be in the background at first,
staged there I assume to showcase the band, but then a few of the
members pick up these "X" shaped metal bars.  They have somewhat of an
esoteric show that never denies rhythm.  I love the visuals with the
arms.  Come on X-people...stick together!  It is tough to move
pole-like objects together perfectly.  You cannot knock Etiwanda for
how they rotate lines.  I was kind of hoping for more of the
challenging rather than more of the precision in regards to marching. 
Oh my!  Niiice sabre toss!  And what a way to end a show.  It appears
as if there is more to come after that abrupt end.  These kids are
like magicians on the field.  You never know what to expect.
My Score: 72.50
Actual Score: 88.10
My Class Placement: 1st
Actual Class Placement: Sweepstakes Class 5A/6A
My Overall Placement: 2nd

Vista High School
Vista, CA
Repertoire: "Shapes and Colors" Whirligig, Restoration and Blue Shades
Comments: Wow.  A lot of 6A bands in red tonight!  All kidding aside,
this band had three dominant tarps on the field...one triangular, one
yellow with a black swirl, and one a red square in which the wind
players were set up on.  The trumpet soloist in the beginning seemed
to get off to a bad start, but recovered well.  The multiple clicking
of the rifles after the toss was not a good sign.  Yes!  Awesome rifle
toss, soloist.  This band had a swell handle to their music, and did
not fail to impress me at all.  Marching was definitely not as strong
as Ayala or Etiwanda, but I am talking minor stuff here, folks. 
Technique from member to member was nearly perfect, but I could look
real closely and find mistakes if I wanted to...but this is not about
who has the most mistakes, of course.  Nifty music spurts here and
there near the end of the show, which was definitely not an easy task
to accomplish.  The band members drag the tarps so they flip over, and
voila, a different color!  (All light blue.)  Their spectacle of a
show ended with huge flags in motion in the back of the field, and
exploding music that seemed a bit insecure near the end.
My Score: 69.90
Actual Score: 84.95
My Class Placement: 4th
Actual Class Placement: 2nd
My Overall Placement: 5th

Chino High School
Chino, CA
Repertoire: "Frontier to Frontier": "Un"Common Fanfare, Camptown
Races, Open Prairie to Open Space and One Small Step: Space.
Comments: Beautiful white fences outlined the front portion of the
field and the pit.  The auxiliary, in red, white, and blue is set up
in a diamond formation near the middle of the field.  Before the show,
someone in the audience yelled out, "This one's for Je-sus!" which git
a few chuckles, including myself.  The beginning was filled with
seamless sound, except for the great "snap".  The trumpets seemed to
overblow slightly, as well as a select few other brass members, which
was not pretty, yet they never ceased to come back with something you
had to applaud.  Step-size throughout the show, like many of the bands
that performed today, was kind of small, which made me wonder how much
effort they were really putting into their show.  The patriotic themes
displayed by banners was moving, and a nailed trumpet solo was icing
on the cake.  I see some of the drill was challenging, especially the
part where they play towards the backfield.  Intervals were off a tiny
bit, as was the part where everyone tilts their shakos to the left. 
This good old fashioned marching show needed more variety to it.  I
mean, how many times have we seen a company front?  And yes, the
American flag waved in between the split front was dramatic, but maybe
almost melodramatic?  These kids rock, but I wanted them to rock
harder.  I wanted them to make my jaw drop by doing the unheard of. 
The America, America, and more America themes are getting tired.  As
much as I love this country, another song for the sake of is usually
just another song for the sake of it.  The real challenge is making it
fresh, and I do not know if Chino has done enough of that.
My Score: 70.20
Actual Score: 86.35
My Class Placement: 3rd
Actual Class Placement: 1st
My Overall Placement: 4th

Upland High School
Upland, CA
Repertoire: (Not Listed)
Comments: Every member on the field was facing a different direction
in an erect posture.  The clarinets moved first, then the saxophones,
then the flutes, and oh yes the music with its minimalist touch cut
through me like a razor.  I was quite impressed by their music, in
fact, and the act they put on by going back into the scatter formation
that parallels the beginning of the show at the end of the first
movement.  Good stuff.  The deep synth sound further and further
pulled me into their show.  Then the rifle girls tripped out with
their rifles, and some more complex music that was not easy to do and
somewhat different was more than welcome to my ears.  The third
movement displayed the incredible control of the marchers at a slow
speed.  Uh uh uh, trumpets, do not sacrifice that great sound for a
squeal unless you can handily pull it off.  (Backfield trumpet
soloist, that includes you as well!)  I must also add that on top of
everything else that was going on, which was great, the deep synth
sound seemed to further and further pull me into their show.  Their
show ended quickly, and I was disappointed that it did.  They had a
lot going for them.
My Score: 71.70
Actual Score: 82.65
My Class Placement: 2nd
Actual Class Placement: 4th
My Overall Placement: 3rd

Exhibition

John F. Kennedy High School
Anaheim, CA
Repertoire: Variations on a Korean Folk Song
Comments: This band is huge!  The program lists the total number of
performers as 245.  One big block of wind players face the back field,
and behind it one big block of wind players face the front field.  The
mammoth clarinet section is perfect for playing "Variations on a
Korean Folksong"!  When the whole band is playing, it is not
overwhelming, but rather very controlled and pleasant to listen to. 
The wood block player in the pit is talented, adding nicely to the
wind player up-and-down licks that have made the music they are
playing so famous.  One disappointing aspect of this band was that
they did not have an auxiliary.  Not one flag or rifle?  Oh well.  I
guess the super pit players in costume are enough.  This was truly a
musician's band, with more flavor to the music than the marching. 
Marching was pretty clean for the most part.  It was nothing to brag
about, but it was there.  The end of their show was played at a halt
with the quint player keeping time.  The band brought this successful
tournament to an end.
My Score: N/A
Actual Score: N/A
My Class Placement: N/A
Actual Class Placement: N/A
My Overall Placement: N/A 

Post-show Thoughts: In Class 1A, I thought that Anaheim High School
was clearly the winner.  It is interesting they lost to two bands that
played "West Side Story."  Now, I am not do think that this is the
reason that happened, but...you have to wonder sometimes.  Also, I do
not think I was the only one who was concerned about the results in
Class 1A.  Things got real quiet when the 3rd place score was read. 
In Class 2A, I was also perplexed as to why Los Alamitos High School
did not take home the top award.  Sure, La Puente High School was
great, but they achieved this by keeping their show "safe," only using
the front and center portion of their field for their show.  Perhaps
Los Alamitos was forgotten about because they were the first band to
perform in their division?  (1st band syndrome?)  I did not forget
about Los Alamitos.  In fact, I had Los Alamitos in 18th place
overall.  (Not bad for a 2A band, huh?)  In Class 3A, finally the
judges and I agree on the results.  Glendora High School was
outstanding, and could perhaps hold their own if they competed with
the bands in Class 4A (and perhaps even Class 5A).  If Glendora does
as well on the street as they do on the field then watch out Class 3A,
because they will be a "combination" band to reckon with.  I still
think Warren High School was the best band in Class 4A, but Valencia
High School did have a strong, strong show.  When I saw Valencia
perform in exhibition, they reminded me of how good they were.  So
Warren was super, Valencia was super, and I do not know how Loara
jumped ahead of Warren.  It is not about Loara being that bad, but
more about Loara being that good.  I think Warren will prove
themselves later, though.  We will just have to wait and see.  In
Class 5A, Esperanza came out on top, and I think they deserved it, and
I think anyone who saw their show and all the other shows in Class 5A
would agree with me.  However, Esperanza is still performing a show
that seems to be tailored for the class they are competing in, so I
hope they step it up a little in the future.  Now to Class 6A.  Heh
heh.  Where shall I start?  Well, Etiwanda High School won, and I can
accept that.  Really, I can!  To me, it was either going to be Ayala
or Etiwanda.  I thought Ayala was better, but that is me.  (On a side
note, I think it would be interesting to see Ayala and Etiwanda go up
against each other at a Bands of America show).  I can kind of...kind
of...KIND OF accept the fact that Chino placed higher than Ayala and
Upland.  (Not really.)  However, I think it is a slap in the face to
have Vista place higher than Ayala (and maybe Upland).  Trust me on
this: Vista was not that good!  Sorry Vista.  It is not that I did not
like you guys, but I really do not agree with the results.  If you
have a tape of Ayala's show and your show, watch it and let me what
you think.

Other Thoughts: Was that John Hausey announcing?  Well, besides the
fact that most of us were there for a BAND SHOW and did not care about
scores to the baseball or football games, you did okay.  My only real
complaint was is you rushed the awards.  Give the kids a break!  They
work long and hard, and deserve some time to be kept in suspense.  I
did think you improved as the day went on, though.  (I liked the
"California" joke.)  And what was with those "reserved" seats?  I was
not told that I had to be a part of one of those bands in order to get
a good seat.  I am sure others who watched the morning/afternoon show
and stayed for the evening show were wondering the same.  And finally,
great job Kennedy High for being such wonderful hosts.  Talk about a
well-run show.  You guys get an A+ in my book.

Congratulations to all the bands that competed.  You were all
FANTASTIC.  Keep up the great work!

I hope you have all enjoyed my review.  Please feel free to contact me
via e-mail if you have any questions or comments.  Have a great day.
    
Alan Irons
Fountain Valley High School Marching Band 1993-1996
Pacific Crest of Diamond Bar 1997
Nashua Spartans 1998-1999
UCSB Class of 2002