Natalie Masachi, News Editor
Drumline at Rancho Cucamonga High School has produced numerous talented shows in the event of a competition.
Winter Drumline is a visual and musical ensemble created through team work and production, and it continues to be the heartbeat of the school. Members of the Rancho Cucamonga High School Winter Drumline were excited to perform a new, darker theme in which there are many elements of fast paced music and eerie visuals. After getting many wins under their belts, Winter Drumline took on another competition in the hopes that all their hard work and efforts would result in a win.
As the team prepares, many components go into the creation of the program. Elijah Turner, senior and Battery Captain, shares how every part is necessary when it comes to the hours of preparation. Turner explains, “The best way to prepare for a competition, […] is to have the same energy you’d have at a competition at a normal, after school rehearsal. Having that same mindset and practicing like you will perform will help a competition feel as normal as practice.”
Practices vary from day to day, but our Winter Drumline puts in an average of three to four hours through the week and eight hours on the weekends.
This drumline’s show this year is based around a piano player who is slowly going mad to achieve perfection; this complex storyline exposes the harsh reality of musicians struggling to be at the height of their success. This theme is going to be a major part of the competition; telling the story through costuming of asymmetrical tuxedos and a vinyl mat with eleven pillars of piano keys as well as a large piano sharing the story.
Joseph Apodaca, a visual soloist in the performance [representing the piano player through choreography and emotion] shares some things to keep in mind before the show to be in during showtime, “Going to a competition, it’s important to just stay relaxed, do what you normally do at practice, and just have fun performing! Don’t worry about the scores or what little mistakes you might make […] At the end of the day, it’s how you felt performing that is important. It’s how amazing you felt putting on that show that will stick with you in the long run.”
This year, the stakes for the competition are high – every year SCPA [Southern California Percussion Alliance] hosts a competition at school and 150 Southern California high school participate.
Although there is a lot of preparation, the overall competition affects each participant differently depending on their position. Each person plays a major factor in the overall performance and execution of the theme of musicians going mad for perfection.
Apodaca shares just how much this competition means, “For our school to be able to host one of these SCPA shows is great because we are competing on your home turf. We know what to expect when performing in our gym.” Overall this SCPA marching competition landed with great success, finishing the weekend with first place overall in categories such as music, music effect, and visual effect. They also came in second place in visuals. Students are able to watch this award winning performance at the End of the Year Concert on April 28th with admission being free for all students.
The Cat's Eye 