This year, our Vallivue band is excited to showcase their new performance, “Every Which Way.” Each person we spoke with, including VHS Band Director Mr. Adamson, gave a different perspective on the show. However, the excitement level was unanimous.
Mr. Adamson told us he is extremely excited for this year’s performance and is very confident in all of his “Great” musicians and their ability to perform. His goal for this year is to get everyone marching on beat and in the right steps. In order to achieve that, they are going to have to practice a lot, work as a team and communicate. Adamson described the performance as very different compared to last year’s with a lot more arrows and steps, but he trusts his musicians and believes they’re going to do great. He also has a lot of confidence in his drum majors and believes they’ll do great in leading their band to success.
The band this year voted seniors Emma Benedick and Emily Moldenhauer as this year’s drum majors. They are excited to see progress in their peers and the growth they experience as a whole. This year their goals are to be the best band and for everyone to grow individually as well as together.
Benedick is a senior and started band in sixth grade. She was originally introduced to the idea by her older brothers since they were already involved. She fell in love with playing. She described the new program as very different compared to the one from last year. Her goals this year are to be a great leader and perform well every time. Moldenhaur has always had a love for music and started playing in sixth grade. Something she’s grateful for is being with the band and being able to see progress. Her goal for this year is to be the best band; this year’s show is more complex.
Our junior perspective on band this year came from Ryan Steinbach. Steinbach started band in sixth grade, and he plays the trumpet and piano. He told us he was looking forward to performing the show this year, but did share the opinion that it was more difficult than last year’s. He also told us that he was excited to play in the Christmas concert, since he said Christmas music is the best to play. However, his main goal for band this year is to make second chair, which he feels is very attainable.
Dallin Nye, a sophomore, told us he also started band in sixth grade, and that he started due to a love for music. He also just enjoys being a part of something bigger than himself. He described the show this year as cool and said he’s excited to perform it. He said he’s particularly excited to compete in the D3 Jazz Competition. His goal for the band this year is simple: he wants to win DIII.
We were also able to get a perspective from someone completely new to the experience of a high school band. Aliah Fraire, a freshman this year, started band in seventh grade. She said the experience was similar to the one that she had while being involved in middle school. She told us that the show this year seemed pretty easy. She also told us that she liked it, and was excited to perform songs in general. Her goal this year in band is to improve her overall abilities, specifically with her instrument the flute.
You can catch our marching band performing during halftime at all of the home football games, and they have a few competitions in October.
