Band Prepares for Competitive Season With Festival of Bands Exhibition Event

Hannah Jourdan, Reporter| September 15, 2021

  • Huddling around a neat circle of baritones, shako hats, and water jugs outside the stadium, the “beuph” section cheers each other on before the 8:00 p.m. performance. Items were carefully placed and adjusted, just like the way they learned drill sets. “Everything we keep organized translates to the show,” section leader Cameron Seale ‘22 said. Photo courtesy of Scott Seamon.

    Scott Seamon
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  • Wearing full uniforms for the first time this season, the Westwood Warrior Marching Band exhibits their show, ‘Human Again,’ at Festival of Bands on the field of Kelly Reeves Athletic Complex. A full crowd of fine arts supporters including the event organizer, Fine Arts Director of Instrumental Music Nolan Loyde, cheered them on in the stands. Photo courtesy of Scott Seamon.

    Scott Seamon
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  • Marching onto the Kelly Reeves Athletic Complex field after Cedar Ridge high school’s performance, the Westwood Warrior Marching Band silently finds the beginning set of ‘Human Again.’ Director Brittney Dacy stood on the 20-yard line and helped the two underclassmen grades with encouraging words. Photo courtesy of Scott Seamon.

    Scott Seamon
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On Tuesday, Sept. 14, the Westwood Warrior Marching band performed their production Human Again at the first Festival of Bands event since 2019 in Kelly Reeves Athletic Complex to fund fine arts support and scholarships. 

“I’m relieved [that we did well], because this is really the first time we’ve had pressure to perform [this year]. Now we have a good gauge of how we’re doing,” mellophone player Rira Suh ‘23 said.  

Middle schoolers who would normally participate were instead audience members due to the earlier schedule. Despite this, the exhibition still allowed bands to share the result of 10 weekly rehearsal hours in a way that simulated their upcoming competitions, like BOA Austin, to be hosted on Saturday, Sept. 25. Directors Brittney Dacy, Thomas Turpin, and Brandon Winters are grateful for this opportunity to showcase why fine arts are important through the band’s accomplishments.