East Oregonian : E.O., November 21, 2015, Image 22

LIFESTYLES
MARCH ON
SAN DIEGO
WEEKEND, NOVEMBER 21-22, 2015
92
15
3
$60K
21
1,250
1
30
10
Hermiston band members
Fundraisers for trip
Grants received
Money raised
Years since last major trip
Miles to San Diego
Mile parade route
Minutes marching time
Bands in halftime performance
Staff photo by Kathy Aney
The Hermiston High School Band entertains during a home football game in October.
Hermiston High School marching band to perform at national holiday bowl
By TAMMY MALGESINI
East Oregonian
Although the teams have yet
to be determined for the National
University Holiday Bowl, one group
IRU VXUH ZLOO EH RQ WKH ¿HOG ² WKH
Hermiston High School marching
band.
,W¶VWKH¿UVWWLPHLQ\HDUVWKDW
a marching band from Hermiston
has taken a trip of that magnitude.
,QWKHEDQGSHUIRUPHGGXULQJ
the Rose Bowl game, said Paul
Dunsmoor, Hermiston’s director of
bands.
In addition to the parade and
halftime combined performance
IHDWXULQJ EDQGV WKH +HUPLVWRQ
band will participate in a competition
with the winning band garnering a
spot during the pre-game festivities.
7KH EDQG¶V VKRZ IHDWXUHV
“The James Bond Theme,”
³6N\IDOO´ ³*ROG¿QJHU´ DQG ³/LYH
DQG/HW'LH´7KH\KDYHSHUIRUPHG
it for several competitions. Also,
Bulldog fans have seen portions of
it during home games. Drum major
Amanda Gutierrez would love
Staff photo by Kathy Aney
Staff photo by Kathy Aney
The Hermiston High School l ute section marches with their
bandmates during a recent home football game.
Two HHS band members play with their fellow musicians at a
recent practice on the school’s baseball fi eld.
nothing more than to have the last
performance be for the pre-game
show in San Diego’s Qualcomm
Stadium, home of the San Diego
Chargers.
“We have very big visions with
this band,” she said. “We get to have
the opportunity to put ourselves
on the map and make a name for
ourselves in the marching band
community.”
The road to San Diego began about
PRQWKV DJR ZKHQ 'XQVPRRU
received an invitation to perform. He
presented a proposal to the school’s
administration, which paved the way
for the trip. The effort gained traction
ZLWKDWOHDVWIXQGUDLVHUVDQGWKUHH
grants from the Hermiston Education
Foundation. The total amount raised
LVQHDUO\'XQVPRRUVDLG
An Oregon State University grad-
uate, Dunsmoor is in his fourth year
RIWHDFKLQJ²DOODW+HUPLVWRQ:KLOH
in school, he estimates spending
6-8 hours a day focusing on music,
including classes, practicing and
performing with different ensembles.
“Music is my life,” he said.
Holiday Bowl
The game is Wednesday,
Dec. 30 at 7:30 p.m. It will
be televised on ESPN.
Team effort
Gutierrez and many of her band-
mates are equally as committed to
excellence.
“It takes a whole lot of practice
to play and march. You can’t just
pick up an instrument and do it,”
said Jacob Winnett, a senior alto
saxophone player. “It takes a lot of
determination. And everyone here
has it.”
One of the challenges in playing
outdoors, said Noah Roberts, a soph-
omore trumpet player, is learning
to increase the volume while still
Staff photo by Kathy Aney
Staff photo by Kathy Aney
Drum major Andy Gillham leads the Hermiston High School Band
in the national anthem during a recent home football game.
The HHS band provides musical encouragement during a recent
home football game.
maintaining quality sound.
³/RXGHULVQ¶WEHWWHUXQOHVV\RX¶UH
in tune,” Gutierrez said. “Otherwise
it’s just irritating sound.”
Dunsmoor said members of the
marching band have been up to
the challenge of performing in San
Diego since the beginning. The
group memorized their show songs
on schedule, which included partic-
ipation in band camp and sectional
practices this past summer. Gutierrez
said some of the rehearsals were
grueling.
³,WZRXOGEHGHJUHHVGXULQJ
band camp,” she said. “We were dog
tired but kept playing and marching.”
Brandon
Marshall,
senior
drumline quints player, said the
band works together to support one
another.
“The camaraderie is like a
family,” he said. “It’s kind of like a
sports team, but it’s band.”
Steve Anderson, a sophomore
English teacher who serves as the
assistant director, gets giddy when
talking about going to San Diego.
“I’ve been a band geek forever,”
he said.
The trip, Anderson said, will
stay with students long after they’ve
¿QLVKHG VFKRRO 7KH LWLQHUDU\ KH
said, includes playing and competing
with other bands, performing during
a nationally televised college bowl
game, sightseeing and hanging out
on the beach.
“It will be a phenomenal expe-
rience for the students,” Anderson
said.
Gutierrez agreed, summing it up
quite simply.
“Besides that, who doesn’t want
to go to California?”