​District Bands Gather For Final Performance

Encinal High School hosted their annual "Extravaganza of Bands" on Saturday, May 21st. However, due to increasing COVID numbers, Encinal opened up the competition to only Alameda Unified bands this year.

Amina Huffman, Miko Wagner and Ava Schiraga perform in the wind section of Encinal's orchestra. (image via Kelly Quach)

Schools in attendance included: Encinal Jr/Sr High School, Alameda High School, Lincoln Middle School, and Wood Middle School. The schools participated in multiple performances such as marching, orchestra, and concert band.

"The marching band part was fun," said Encinal Sophomore Sofia Layzer. "We got to watch Lincoln Middle School and Alameda High march before we marched, which was cool. I think it’s pretty amazing that we pulled it off with very little preparation...I think we did a pretty good job."

Alameda High brought back its marching band in 2019 after a 30 year hiatus. "It's fairly new," said Mr. White, the Alameda High Music Director, regarding the the Hornet marching band.

Despite feeling a bit underprepared, Encinal marching band members were satisfied with their performance. Marching band takes a certain level of coordination.

"Honestly. I was pretty anxious [because] I didn’t really feel like we had prepared enough for marching again but we kinda killed it," said Junior Molly Boyle. "Our ranks and diagonals were SO GOOD, and basically all of us remembered the freeze step." Encinal students and parent volunteers worked during the competition, fulfilling multiple jobs including providing chairs and music stands to the performing bands.

For seniors, it was one of their last times performing with their classmates.

"That day, seeing everyone getting into their uniforms made me more happy than nervous. When done marching, I felt like that was the best time we’ve ever marched," added Layzer.

Encinal Seniors perform one final time during the band review on May 21. (image via Kelly Quach)

The band review lasted from 8:30-3:00 P.M. The show ended with a final performance by the Encinal Jazz band.

Though no formal awards were given, judges workshopped with the orchestra and concert bands. Adjudicators included Clark Brown (Harker School), Genevieve Kromm, Grijda Spiri (UC Santa Cruz), and Mitchell Wagner (Lowell High School).