The award winning CHS band has had an undefeated regular season and this year has made it to the California State Band Championships. With their unique theme, “The Final Frontier,” band placed 7th, percussion 3rd, and color guard 6th out of their division at championships . The judges at Southern California Judge Association, also awarded CHS band with a special award called the “Viewers Choice award” in which the people decided the winner by logging onto Facebook and liking pictures of the band. CHS obtained the most votes, winning the award. With their positive attitude and determination, they were able to make it very far this season.

The percussion team, which branches off into drumline and “The Pit” has worked very hard to become the beat and forms expressions for the group. When the music the band performs reaches a climax, the Percussion would play their instruments dramatically to accentuate the musical climax. Instruments such as the marimba, snare drum, tenor drums, and xylophone would be played rhythmically and enthusiastically. Drumline and “The Pit” together are made up by 16 people and lead by Senior, Devin Mejia. Percussion has done their best over the past several years to always place in the top three in their division. Even though the percussion team is large, each individual contributes a very massive part.

“Percussion plays very challenging music with their hands unlike the rest of the band, which has to blow into their instruments,” Devin Mejia said. “ Before every band performance, we would gather around and whisper our motto, ‘Put everything you got.’”

Color guard, led by junior Nicolene Limsnukan has worked very hard this season and the team was awarded sixth place at championships. The Color Guard creates a visual picture of the music the band plays during the field show. They also support the band by showing the emotion and intensity of the music at different parts of the show. To prepare for their extensive show with band, Color Guard trains four days a week by conditioning and working out constantly. Color Guard also won first place at three competitions in the regular season, making them undefeated as well.

“I love that Color Guard is like my second family, it’s a place where we can all fit in and share the same talent. This has been definitely one of my best years and we have all been doing great,” Limsnukan said.

Band has worked tremendously hard to have an undefeated season by training every day for at least 2 hours. Conductor, Melanie Riley Gonzales, also known as Mrs. G has led the band, along with, senior Drum Major Jared Cicon and junior Drum Major Brooke Safley. They have dedicated their music expertise to lead the band in this year’s marching season. Band is not only about about musical strength and hitting the correct notes, but it also demands that the team be physically fit. Since band has a marching season, a member must be able to do a ten minute show without getting tired. Along with strengthening their musical talents, the band does planks, push ups, running, and more to help with endurance on the field to ready themselves for the extensive field show. Their theme this year was called “The Final Frontier,” where they incorporated music that had a astronomical ambience to it. During their field show, Band made shapes such as spirals when the music softened, sharp shapes when the music became dramatic, and at some point of the show they made the Star Trek symbol.

“This season in particular, I really liked that everyone had such great attitude towards the common goal that we were all setting our minds to, despite us being sick of each other because we would spend so much time together throughout the season,” Cicon said. “However, when we all come to realize the common goal we were all working towards, it brings us that much closer.”

Band, Percussion, and Color Guard all have worked for an extensive period of time, and all that hard work has finally paid off. Now, Color Guard is working for their winter competition season, and Band and Percussion are heading into their concert season where they play together as an ensemble and also have selected musicians to play with the CHS Orchestra.