PRESS BRIEFS ARCHIVE
2005-2006 Season
Future Performances
Los Altos Festival of Lights Parade
Nov. 26, 2006
Contacts
Barbara Heninger
Publicity Volunteer
barbheninger@barbwired.com
Elaine Bernard
Mountain View Music Parents' Association President
elainebernard@yahoo.com
Robin Kramer
Mountain View High School Music Director
robin.kramer@mvla.net
 Band students celebrate winning the Grand Sweepstakes plaque and other awards (background) from the 2005 Foothill Band Review. Back row, L-R: Melissa Nilles,Karin Fujii, Kelly Day, Michelle Conant, Kate Eglen, Kevin Zittle. Middle row: Karina Chow, Lance Jabr, Brian Posey, Laura Passarelli. Front row: Jeff Chiang, Katie Levy. |
 Drum majors Isaac Giron and Jordan Haedtler display Giron's First Place Parade Drum Major (Open) award. |
(See additional parade photos.)
Marching Band Takes Home Top Honors at Pleasanton Competition
The Mountain View High School Spartan Marching Band marched away with top honors at the Foothill Band Review in Pleasanton, California, on October 22. The group won the competition's Parade and Field Show Champion Grand Sweepstakes Award, given to the band with the most points in the parade and field events. Over 45 high school bands participated at the review, hosted by the Foothill High School Marching Band in Pleasanton.
"We were so happy, we all rushed the wrong trophies," said band member Steven Frey, who plays saxophone.
The band also earned six other trophies: First Place Parade Class B, First Place Auxiliary (Color Guard) Class B, Second Place Field Show Class I, Fourth Place Wind Section Class I, as well as the Parade and Field Show Drum Major Sweepstakes and First Place Parade Drum Major, Open Style for drum major Isaac Giron, 16. Giron said he felt "disbelief, amazement, then joy" when his sweepstakes award was announced.
This is the 30th year that Mountain View High School has participated in the event and Band Directors Robin Kramer and Adam Beck were awarded a special plaque commemorating the milestone. "What's so inspirational," said Band Director Robin Kramer, "is watching thousands of kids all working hard to perform as a team. It makes me happy."
Mountain View band students who had marched in rigorous precision down the streets of Pleasanton in the morning exploded into cheers, screams, and wild jumping as the award was announced at the end of the day-long event. The band's dramatic field show, "Midnight in Transylvania," brought cheers from the crowd earlier that evening when color guard members dressed as vampires jumped out of coffins carried on by the band members. The show was led by drum majors Isaac Giron, Jordan Haedtler, and Karin Fujii.
Parent volunteers play a big part in the event as well, sewing costumes, cleaning uniforms, building props, and hauling food and equipment. Volunteer Linda Dotson, whose son Andy Forster plays clarinet in the band, oversees the care and repair of the band uniforms. "I thought it was fantastic," she said afterward. "I always feel like I've won, too."
For more information, contact:
Barbara Heninger, Band Publicity Volunteer, barbheninger@barbwired.com
Elaine Bernard, MV Music Parents Association President, elainebernard@yahoo.com
Robin Kramer, MVHS Music Director, robin.kramer@mvla.net