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Monache High, Granite Hills compete at Selma Band Review
Busy month for local high school bands
A “Kaleidoscope” of color and shapes is what the Monache High School Marauder Band offered the packed stadium Saturday at Staley Stadium during the 48th annual Selma Rotary Marching Band Festival in Selma. The band returned with an array of awards, including trophies for Best Field Drum Major, first place field percussion, second place field show, second place parade and second place parade percussion.
The band was second overall, with Washington Union taking the Grand Sweepstakes — something the Monache band has won more times than any other school in the history of the competition.
“I thought the bands’ musical performance was phenomenal on the field and in the street,” said Justin Adams, Monache High School band director. “The kids are playing with a great sound and demonstrating fine musicianship. It’s going to be fun to watch the show progress during the next month of our competition season.”
Also competing at the Selma Band Review Saturday was Granite Hills High School.
The Granite Hills Band placed second in parade out of 10 bands in its division and its “Pirates of the Caribbean” field show took third in its division.
“I feel we did awesome, especially considering we had some tough competition,” said flute player Lupe Serrato.
Pit section leader Jed Hackett agreed, saying he believed it was a great performance and the band did its best.
“Both Monache and Granite Hills did an amazing job in Selma and represented our schools and city of Porterville well,” said Ken Ormonde, Granite Hills’ band director. “Both of us placed top three bands at event in our divisions.”
The Monache Marauder Band will continue to stay busy during the month of November. It will compete again on Nov. 10 at the Stockdale Band Spectacular at Stockdale High School, Bakersfield; participate Nov. 12 in the Porterville Veterans Day Parade and Buck Shaffer Band-A-Rama; compete Nov. 17 at the Music in Motion Band Review at Centennial High, Bakersfield, and perform Nov. 25 at the Hollywood Christmas Parade; and Nov. 29 at the Porterville Children’s Christmas Parade.
The Granite Hills Grizzly Band will perform Saturday at the Fresno State Band Day; on Nov. 12 at the Porterville Veterans Day Parade and Buck Shaffer Band-A-Rama; and Nov. 29 at the Porterville Children’s Christmas Parade.
