Marching bands compete in annual Showdown

By Mytae Carrasco

Sunday, Oct. 12, 2008 | 1:05 p.m.

The smell of hamburgers and hot dogs wafted across the football field Saturday while fans huddled under blankets at Silverado High School. Despite the cool weather, marching bands across the valley competed in the third annual Showdown at Silverado.

Last weekend, Coronado and Basic high schools hosted Henderson Bandfest. Being the host meant neither band could compete, but this time the Cougars were able to show what they were made of.

“It’s a lot different from hosting it then actually being in it, because when you host it, you’re not really scored to be placed,” said Kristal Hosaka, a sophomore bass clarinet player for Coronado.

There is no state title to bring home, but the players in this game take their marching band experience seriously.

Senior Nicolas Pinegar, who plays bassoon for Liberty, said the band is always looking to improve its score.

“We have a poster in our band room that says ‘Beat Liberty’ and that is what we need to do -- beat ourselves every time,” he said. “We measure our success by … if we improve on our score every time.

The judges must have heard the improvement, too, as Liberty earned the class A championship on Saturday.

Shadow Ridge was the winner in the AA class. Sophomore Nathan Alexander-Koteras said he felt positive about his bandmates’ performance.

“I think it is the best performance this year,” he said. “We have made many run-throughs at football games (and) Tuesday practices and this one has been our best one, I think. We were focused.”

Winning four trophies, Sierra Vista stole the show.

“It’s such an amazing feeling to be here and perform your very best and to bring color to the band, and to show these people that color guard is just like any other sport in school,” Sierra Vista color guard member Brittany Golomb said. “Once you get out there and you perform your very best, it is all about how you perform and how good you really are.”

Any school that hosts a competition gets to pick its own panel of judges. Although Silverado did not compete because it was the host, the Skyhawks still were able to perform and receive comments from the judges.

Silverado band director Jeff Lance said the judges’ comments and scores are a valuable tool in a band evaluating its success. He said because it is still early in the marching band season, all of the bands are working on refining their performances.

“The more important thing is the comments that they provide to help make them better musicians, and marchers and all that good stuff,” he said.

Each band competes in three categories: best musical, best visual performance and best general effect.

“One of the things we do is confirm their strengths and validate the work that they have done,” said Paul Davis, one of the judges. Davis is the band director at Kennesaw State University. “At the same time, (we) point out some of the places where they can look to improve their product.”

Judge Tom Brawner, director of the Scott County High School marching band in Georgetown, Ky., offered some tips to competitors.

“Stick to music and don’t burn yourself out on non-musical things,” he said. “Don’t spend all of your time on things that don’t make (you) sound better.”