Washington High School’s band has seen some major developments this school year. For many members of the band, these are exciting changes from their usual activities, while for others, they present difficulties. Christian Querubin, who plays the alto saxophone in the wind section, described some of the challenges both his section and other sections of the band have faced when performing: “I think the most difficult part during our competitions is making sure that we are uniform as a band,” he said. “When we’re at those competitions, we’re all supposed to be just one band together playing one song. So when we have people not being on step or playing the wrong rhythms, those inconsistencies are what cause us to lose points.”
Emphasis on uniformity has been crucial this year, not only in performances, but also in the band uniforms themselves. Being a relatively new change, many band members received some new uniforms this year, with very mixed reviews. “Not everyone in the band agrees with the new look,” said one band member who has chosen to remain anonymous. “It’s made from one hundred percent polyester, and because of that, some people don’t think it looks the best.”
Some other students are more appreciative of the changes, though. “They’re a bit of an upgrade because you can take them home now,” senior Alexander Toma said. “They’re machine washable, which makes it really nice because you don’t have to take them to the cleaners.” Both sides of the practicality-vs.-style debate on these uniforms are apparent throughout the band. In any case, the band has been attempting to become more consistent in their performances, and these new uniforms are part of that.
Besides the new uniforms, the band has also made great strides in competition placement. Recently, the band achieved a new milestone by moving up to the 6A division, the highest classification for a marching band in competition. This is one of the first times that this has occurred for Washington High School, and many band members are ecstatic about this victory. Toma believes this achievement not only marks the school’s dedication and effort, but also a new era of Washington’s band. “Right now we’re sitting at around 130 students in the marching band specifically,” he notes. The larger size and higher level of competition reflect how far the program has come in recent years.
To accommodate this, the music department also added a second symphonic band, creating specific groups for beginner, intermediate, and advanced musicians. “It’s a big improvement because now more students have the chance to perform and develop their skills,” Toma said.
Beyond this, the marching band had also been preparing for several key performances, the most notable being a competition in Santa Cruz and Foothill, in which Washington scored an 86 and 88.3, respectively. These events featured both the symphonic band and the wind ensemble, as well as performances from the school’s guitar classes.
For Querubin, Toma, and every other musician in the band, this year’s events, both upcoming and prior, will mark the culmination of months’ worth of teamwork and dedication. Whether they’re adjusting to new uniforms or preparing for upcoming competitions and parades, one thing is certain: Washington High School’s band will continue to move forward and strive for excellence.
Nathan Tran is now a senior at Washington High School. He has lived in Fremont all his life and this is his first year working on The Hatchet. Nathan is very interested in covering various topics relating to social studies, including history, economics, and more. In his free time, Nathan likes to play video games, cook with friends, and go on walks with his dog. As of right now he’s unsure of what his future will be, although he hopes to work in something related to aviation.