Schools

Music in motion

Marching bands work and play hard in a quest for top ratings.

By ROBBYN MITCHELL, Times Staff Writer
Published November 4, 2007

Javier Granda, 17 of Tampa holds his bottom bass drum while standing at the front of the Chamberlain High School percussion line.
	[Ross Mantle | Times]

ADVERTISEMENT See the results Late results from Saturday's festival [Ross Mantle | Times] The Chamberlain High School Band of the Fighting Chiefs, led by band director Bruce Herrmann, practices before competing in the event at Bloomingdale High School. Chamberlain was one of 24 Hillsborough County bands on the roster.

VALRICO - Sixty-five left boots tapped the grass to the tick of the snare drum as the Wharton Wildcat Marching Band began moving into formations.

They were fourth on the roster of 24 bands participating in Saturday's 2007 Marching Band Festival at Bloomingdale High School. And they intended to be remembered.

Girls in furs popped in and out of a magical, wooden wardrobe as they acted out a musical Journey to Narnia. By the end, the crowd of classmates, relatives and friends were hooting and whistling to signal a job well done.

Then it was on to the next step, as fans poured out of the stands to congratulate them in the parking lot and the next school's admirers rushed in for the good seats.

The annual Florida Bandmasters Association event invites all the high school bands in Hillsborough County to showcase their best and be rated by a panel of judges.

"There's not a winner," said Jill Ferguson, this year's coordinator. "It's sort of like they're competing against themselves."

Bands are ranked from superior to poor based on six categories: two music categories, marching, maneuvering, percussion and general effect.

"It's a good way for the kids to see where they are and what they need to work on," said Kevin Fuller, band director for Horace Mann Middle School.

Ranging from 36 to 247 in size, bands were rotated on and off the football field in 15-minute increments to keep the six-hour show rolling.

"We got here an hour early to warm up," said Amanda Bowen, a sophomore percussionist from Robinson High School. "But afterward we're going to stay and watch the others."

Mirna Padilla brought her two daughters, Tiare and Giovanna, from South Tampa to listen to the bands and check out her son's competition. He goes to Bloomingdale.

"I've been enjoying the music of everyone so far," Padilla said. "They've all done a really good job."

Tiare, who plays alto saxophone for Dowdell Middle School, said she was waiting to see Howard W. Blake High School because she had heard how good that band was.

Patrick Einsmann came to see his daughter, Amy, and Armwood High School's Hawks take on the music of the Jackson 5. He said he probably won't hesitate to come back after his daughter graduates.

"I love the old school music," he said. "It's enjoyable, and I don't mind giving them an hour or two of my day."

Robbyn Mitchell can be reached at (813) 269-5313 or rmitchell@sptimes.com.

[Last modified November 4, 2007, 00:59:40]