After a successful band camp full of hard work and long hours, the Westwood Warrior Marching Band performed at the annual exhibition on Friday, Aug. 17.

The performance started with the movement exercise which allows the band to warm up before any rehearsal. It is a series of movements incorporating different dance elements that go along with the song Feels Like Summer by Childish Gambino. The movement exercise was performed to give an insight to the audience as to how the band stretches and prepares for rehearsal.

“When we first started learning the movement exercise, I hadn’t really liked it all that much because I’m not very good at choreography, but as we did it more and once the music was added, I began to love it,” Andrew Crawford ’20 said. “I’m so glad our family and friends got to witness our daily routine, to see a snippet of what we do everyday.”

The spirit show was the next part of exhibition, which is typically performed at the earliest football games. This year, the spirit show is entitled Uprising, by Muse. The band directors chose Uprising because the stand tune would get the crowd energized.  

“Our spirit show is much harder to march this year, but it also looks much cooler. At the end of our show we make a ‘W’ to represent the school,” Elin Park ’21 said.

The band then performed part one of Celestial Motions. This year’s show is about space and was created by colorguard director Chris Josey. Part one of the show starts with expansive music conveying the growth of the universe.

“I really love the concept of space as it portrays the vastness of the endless universe with different styles of music and vivid choreography,” Elaine Chen ’21 said. “I also enjoy marching this show because it allows me to express my imagination and creativity in various ways!”

Many snippets of the music are taken from composer Gustav Holst. For instance, Jupiter, a movement of The Planets, is in this years show opener. Later on in the show, there is music featured from a Disney song, When You Wish Upon a Star, in part two and percussion music featuring Collide in part three.

“Our Westwood Alma Mater is from a section in Jupiter-Bringer of Jollity, and that part is incorporated into our opener music which kind of made our show dedicated towards Westwood,” Jessica Hao ’22 said. “Last year, at Canyon Vista Middle School, I actually got to play Jupiter in full orchestra and I was really excited that it would be a big part in our show this year.”

Part three and four of the show expand more into space and bring in other celestial beings. Part three is about the sun being created with a percussion feature, and includes wind players’ dance break. Part four is when the band gets swallowed up into a black hole. Music has not been prepared yet for part three and part four but should be ready for audiences before the first competition on Saturday, Sept. 29.

“The percussion always sounds really cool and it’s super fun when everyone gets really into the dance break, including the audience,” Megan Patterson ’19 said. “We always got the loudest cheers when we started the dance break two years ago so I can’t wait to perform part three at a football game.”

The night ended with the band playing the Alma Mater and the Fight Song. Alumni, parents and siblings joined in, cheering to show their spirit and support.

“My last experience at exhibition was somewhat bittersweet honestly, probably for all of the seniors, because it was the last one we’re going to be able to participate in,” Patterson said. “I love exhibition because I get to see my friends who graduated, and I stayed for a while after exhibition ended to catch up with the alumni. I am sad that I won’t have another exhibition to participate in, but I think last night was a lot of fun so I’m happy that my last exhibition was a good one. I think the show is well written and staged well so I think this show is going to be really great and I’m excited to see what we can accomplish with Celestial Motions.”