As one of the top 10 bands from across the state, the Bucs were
judged this morning by four celebrity judges to determine if they
receive a prize in the contest. The winner of the contest receives
$10,000. Winners will be announced Monday morning on KZOK radio.
The South Kitsap band, which marched in the 2010 Tournament of
Roses Parade, pledged that if they won, they would donate the money
during this year’s Relay for Life. “The community has supported us
on getting to the Tournament of Roses Parade and it is only just
for us to show them our gratitude. Of course if we do not place in
the competition, we will still be participating in the event and
raising money any way we can,” said drum major Paulla Santos.
Paulla commented on Kingston’s accomplishment, as well as South
Kitsap’s failure to make it into the top 10 for the first time
since the contest began three years ago.
Here’s Paulla:
“Hi there Mrs. Henry! Yes I have heard the results and we are
perfectly fine with it:) It is obvious that we did not push the
votes this year since last year we out voted everyone by a large
margin..We have done a lot of amazing things so far and nothing can
top the rose bowl and a day from the governor. To be in the top
ten, u simply just need to acquire votes. This is kind of
disheartening that it is not based on the music of the overall
program, but its a contest to have fun with videos and raise
spirit:) As far as the money and planning on giving it back to the
community, we are still participating in Relay For Life with at
least 2 or 3 teams ^.^”
By Chris Henry
chenry@kitsapsun.com
OLYMPIA
Gov. Christine Gregoire has proclaimed Tuesday
South Kitsap High School Marching Band Day.
Gregoire signed the proclamation Jan. 8 in honor of the
band’s performance in the 2010 Rose Parade in Pasadena,
Calif.
South Kitsap was chosen in October, 2008 from among more than 60
applicants for the opportunity to play in the Rose Parade. This
year, there were 16 slots open to applicants.
An estimated one million people each year line the streets of
Pasadena to watch the 5 1/2-mile parade, and Tournament of Roses
officials claim millions more watch the show around the world, with
broadcasts in 217 countries.
Band Director Gary Grams, who marched as a student in the 1991
Tournament of Roses Parade with the Wyoming High School All-State
Centennial Marching Band, wanted his students to be able to share
the experience. The students practiced intensively from midsummer
on, including calisthenics to prepare themselves for the
parade.
Grams will travel to Olympia next month for a ceremonial signing of
the proclamation.
The
Kingston High School Buccaneer Marching Band is proving itself
a force to be reckoned with. The band, formed three years when the
high school opened, has entered the annual Battle of the
Bands, sponsored by KZOK and The Rock Wood-Fired Pizza &
Spirits. As of Thursday, they were in sixth place in the
preliminary round of the contest, involving online voting via text
messages.
The top 10 bands will be determine by online voting — up to 10
text messages per phone per day are allowed. The winner will be
chosen Feb. 5 by a panel of judges. South Kitsap and Kingston are
among 33 Washington high schools competing for a chance to win
$10,000. The runner-up band wins $5,000. The band that shows the
most spirit and effort will earn $2,500.
If I’m not mistaken, Kitsap County is unique in having two bands
in the contest.
Let’s look at how things have gone so far for South Kitsap in
the Battle of the Bands. Year One, 2008: The band is among the
finalists and its performance of a medley of Beatles tunes,
including “Magical Mystery Tour,” is included on a CD from the
contest. Online voting that year was disrupted by a hacker. Year
two, 2009: South Kitsap wins the popular vote hands down, but the
panel of judges picks Liberty High School as the winner, placing SK
third. That $10,000 would have so come in handy for the Rose Parade
trip. Sign band director, Gary Grrrrrams.
This year, South Kitsap is at the top of its game, with a video
performance of Bon Jovi’s “You Give Love a bad Name,” the same song
they played block after block at the Rose Parade. Kingston,
meanwhile, has stepped out with their video version of “Radar Love”
by Golden Earring.
Check out both videos below, then exercise your rights as a
citizen of the United States of Kitsap. Text to 24300. If you favor
South Kitsap, vote rock28 (no spaces, hyphens etc). If you’re
rooting for the underdog, Kingston, type in rock10. Or split your
10 votes per day. Heck, I don’t care. But whatever you do, show
your Kitsap colors. After all, we are THE Washington hotbed of
bands that rock. No?
South Kitsap High School – “You Give Love a Bad Name”
The South Kitsap High School Marching Band performed at Bandfest
2010 on Dec. 30 at Pasadena City College.
This video was made available to the Kitsap Sun by Farmer’s
Insurance, an official supporter of the Tournament of Roses. Notice
at the beginning, the announcer gives props to local Farmer’s agent
Brain Horch. Working with the Washington state office, Horch
orchestrated a dodgeball tournament called “Dodge for Roses” that
raised $3,900 for the band’s trip.
The band will play a field show at Bandfest,
the Tournament of Roses’ showcase of Rose Parade musicians.
Bandfest extends over two days, with three shows. South Kitsap is
scheduled to play at 2 p.m. today (Dec. 30) at Pasadena City
College.
South Kitsap will represent the Northwest region in the Rose
Parade. Also from the Northwest, the Oregon Marching Band is
included since the University of
Oregon Ducks will be playing in the Rose Bowl
Game.
Bands come from all over the country and from abroad. Some are
invited back year after year. The Salvation Army Tournament of
Roses Band, for example, has played in the parade for 90 years.
South Kitsap was among more than 60 bands competing for 16 audition
slots in the parade.
International bands in this year’s parade include one from
Japan, the Kansai Honor Green Band of Kyoto, and the Latin Band
Pedro Molina from Guatemala (see video at bottom of post).
As far as size goes, South Kitsap is, as drum major Paulla
Santos says, “a little fish in a big pond.” With 109 members, they
are less than half the size of most bands, which typically have 200
members or more. The largest, to the best of my knowledge, is the
Los Angeles Unified School District band, with 358 members.
The smallest band in the parade is the Ohio State School for the Blind Marching
Band with 68 members total, including 13 brass, 13 percussion,
11 woodwinds, 2 banner carriers, 29 marching assistants, sighted
individuals who march alongside band members. These marching
assistants range in age from junior high through grandparents ages.
All are volunteers.
The instrumental music program at the publicly funded school had
been dormant for 13 years, when Carol Agler, now music director,
joined the staff in 1998. She discovered the band instruments in
storage and petitioned to revive the program. Agler, who has been a
driving force behind creation of the band, is listed as assistant
director. Dan Kelley, a trumpet player who has been blind from
birth, is the band director.
Band members learn their music using a computer program called
SmartMusic that allows them to hear their parts individually or
with the band as slowly as they choose. Many of the band members
have “perfect pitch,” meaning they can identify any pitch they
hear. They work independently with SmartMusic to learn their music.
Others read enlarged music or Braille music as they use
SmartMusic.
Their entry information includes the following statement:
“The Rose Parade provides an opportunity to demonstrate to the
WORLD what incredible musicians blind and visually impaired
students can be, and to provide a model for other programs and
students. We hope to give visually impaired students the
imagination and tools to reach their full potential. We hope other
band directors will follow our lead and readily include visually
impaired students in their marching bands.”
Here’s some information on the
South Kitsap High School Band that Director Gary Grams
submitted to the Tournament of Roses Association. When national
television announcers see the band marching down the street at the
Rose Parade, they’ll reference this information.
Gary Grams
I should mention that Tournament of Roses President-elect Sally
Bixby, who visited the band in June, told me yesterday that she was
especially impressed with the band given its size. Most of the
bands in the Rose Parade are at least twice as large as the Wolves’
band. Most have a larger staff, too. Grams gets it done with the
help of assistant director Michael Paul Koontz, and drum majors
Paulla Santos, James Damian and Simone Schaffer, who provide
essential leadership as well as literally leading the band in
performances.
Here’s Grams on Band History:
There is not a recorded history for the Band Program at SKHS, I
only know what has been told to me about the band. Back in “the
day” the SKHS Marching Band used to be called the Marching Machine.
They won every competition they went to for many years.
Now for a more recent history of the band. South Kitsap High
School is the largest 10-12 HS in the state of Washington with a
total enrollment of 2500+ students. We currently have over 100
members in the band program that participate in Concert Band, Wind
Ensemble, Pep Band, Jazz Band, and of course Marching Band.
When I arrived at SKHS I was the third band director in four
years and started out with 48 students. We have grown significantly
over the past seven years and now have over 100 students in the
program. We strive for excellence in everything we do and take a
lot of pride in the product that we produce.
In my tenure at SKHS the band and I have had many wonderful and
unique performing opportunities, such as performing for the
homecomings of three U.S. Naval ships: the USS Camden, the USS Carl
Vinson and the USS John C. Stennis.
For the last two years the marching band competed in a Battle of
the Bands competition sponsored by the Seattle radio station KZOK
and The Rock Wood Fired Pizza. Although the band did not win last
year, we were included on a CD of the top ten bands of the
competition. This year we won third place. The competition has been
a great experience for the band.
We have also participated annually in the Armed Forces Day
Parade in Bremerton, Washington (largest Armed Forces Parade in the
Country) in the Apple Blossom Parade in Wenatchee, WA., the Macy’s
Holiday Parade in Seattle, WA. and the Victoria Day Parade in
Victoria B.C.
The Marching Band also performs regularly in our community in
such events as grand openings and other special occasions.
Everything we do we strive for musical and marching excellence. Our
strengths lie in our powerful sound and musical accuracy as well as
marching excellence.”
SKHS Band’s Awards and Honors:
* KZOK and The Rock Wood Fired Pizza – Battle of the Bands
Competition, sponsored by KZOK Radio: 2008, Successfully recorded
“Magical Mystery Tour Medley” for a promotional CD from the contest
that included the top ten bands from the competition; 2009, won
popular vote in online competition to determine finalists, then
named to 3rd Place by panel of judges.
* Macy’s Holiday Parade—Seattle Washington (2005 to present): 2008,
Featured as opening musical act for parade; 2007, Award for Musical
Excellence; 2006, Best Marching Band.
* Yearly participation in the Armed Forces Day Parade in Bremerton,
Wa., (largest armed forces parade in the country), 2003 – present:
2009, 1st Place in our division; 2008, 1st Place in our division;
2007, 1st Place in our division; 2006, 2nd Place in our
division.
* Yearly Participation in the Husky Band Day, University of
Washington, Seattle, Washington, 2004 – present.
* Yearly participation in the Victoria Day Parade, Victoria, B.C.,
2003-present (except 2007 due to technical difficulties): 2009, 3rd
Place in our division; 2008, 3rd Place in our division.
* Played for the Homecoming of the USS John C. Stennis (aircraft
carrier) at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, Washington,
2003-04 school year.
* Played for the Homecoming of the USS Carl Vinson (aircraft
carrier) at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, Washington,
2003-04 school year.
* Played for the Homecoming of the USS Camden (support vessel) at
the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, Washington, 2002-03
school year.
Other Parade Awards: 1st Place, Apple Blossom Parade, Wenatchee,
Wa.; 3rd Place, Victoria Day Parade, Victoria B.C.
