On October 25, Irvington’s marching band and color guard performed at Foothill’s 51st annual band review at Amador Valley High School in downtown Pleasanton. Immediately after exiting the bus at 10:30 AM, students changed into uniforms and went straight to the block for warm-ups. They had one practice run through before the competition, where Junior Varsity performed “In Storm and Sunshine,” and Varsity “Centaur”.
Despite the rushed start, Irvington’s bands had an amazing performance. “We were really loud today and ready to do whatever we were thrown into,” says Arianna De Vera (12). The Varsity marching band placed 2nd among 35 bands, winning both Music and Showmanship Sweepstakes. JV followed close behind in 5th place. “Both bands played their best and gave outstanding performances,” Mr. Rodda, Irvington’s band director, shared. “Varsity, especially, showed a lot of improvement. They sounded better than they did the week before at Santa Cruz.” Drumline also placed 1st in its category, JV drum major Kirsten Zhou (12) placed 4th, and Varsity drum major Riya Ragavan (12) placed 6th.
Their success at Foothill came near the end of a chain of outstanding performances, winning sweepstakes at Delta, Pitman, and Santa Cruz. This achievement can be attributed to their hard work throughout the season. Beginning mid-July, both band and guard have been working hard, preparing for competition. Students in band attend after-school practice three days a week and flex sectionals, on top of daily band classes (which are split into award-winning Wind I and II ensembles, the 3 symphonic bands, and orchestra), where they focus on improving their music.
One change this season was a more selective process for deciding on Varsity members, resulting in a much smaller band. Mr. Rodda noted the smaller band was “focused during rehearsals” and therefore easier to manage.
Alongside Irvington’s marching band, the Varsity and Junior Varsity Color Guard also made a big impact at the Foothill band review. Varsity placed 1st, and Junior Varsity placed in the top third of all guards despite placing last in their division.
A key aspect of color guard’s success is their teamwork. Irvington’s color guard has always had a tight-knit community, with strong student leadership. Varsity Captain Jason Ngo (12), who has been with the team for four years, is a big advocate for the guard community. Despite the responsibilities that come with the job, Ngo takes pride in “being a rock for everyone to lean on”. In addition, the Color Guard staff has increased in recent years. The coaches have helped support student leaders and make important changes to both the Varsity and Junior Varsity’s routines.
With their success thus far, both teams look to continue making progress. Leaders aren’t afraid of switching things up, with Ngo pointing out that “Something that makes us strong is trying new things”. Varsity had new, standout aspects of their routine, such as a lift and a ribbon dancer. Junior Varsity also introduced a flag feature at the end of their routine, something traditionally only performed by Varsity. Junior Varsity Co-Captain An Takeuchi (11) explains that this is a big step up for Junior Varsity, as “a huge flag block is very impressive if it’s all clean” and demonstrates experience on different types of equipment.
Reflecting on the season, both band and guard emphasize the strong community as a highlight of the program. “One of the best parts is definitely the camaraderie we build. We always have each other’s backs,” says Ryan Lam (12), JV clarinet section leader. Videos of their performances at Foothill and preview competitions can be found on YouTube.
