The band’s award concert was May 6. This concert is unlike our DMC/winter concerts because we recognize students who have done a lot of work in the band. It is around an hour and thirty minutes which is way longer than most of our other concerts. During this concert, we usually have drum major announcements due to the drum major try-outs that are a week or two before the concert.
The awards range in what they mean but are all recognized on the national level. They are awards mostly unique to band and have a lot of meaning in the band. They can help you get scholarships and secure a job. That is why many band kids try their hardest and it doesn’t go unnoticed. The band director also gives out lettering, lettering for band is when you are awarded for getting merit points. These points are based on years in band, band lessons, playing for games, honor band, etc. Many people have lettered this year and we are very proud of them! It is very good to letter in band because it takes a lot of dedication and hard work. Major lettering points were given to the kids who played in band, which meant many people who were close to lettering got it!
In an interview with Maci Cornish, last year’s third drum major, she states,” I am heartbroken that this is my last performance with Mangas. She has truly changed my life in a good way, and I couldn’t thank her enough! Mangas has been there for me through some really hard times these past couple of years and I’m so glad that I have her but the fact that she is leaving makes me so sad and it feels like a part of me is leaving. We have worked so hard to get as far as we’ve come. Some of the pieces we are playing that night are hard and aren’t for the faint of heart. Knowing that we are good enough to do hard pieces like this makes me feel like we’ve come so far. I’m very sad that this year’s seniors are leaving. I have grown so close to most of them and I’m happy that they’re going on to be something more than a student.”
Mason Elford, a junior who plays trumpet, states,” The band has practiced a lot for this concert and we all hope we can make it the best possible perfomance for the seniors, Mrs. Mangas and everyone that shows up. I feel like there are going to be many emotional moments and a lot of tears. I know that I will be emotional because of the way that she has had an influence on me and my band experience.” Maddy Huss, our second drum major who is a senior, states,” I will miss all the amazing memories I’ve made in band, but I know they’ve got it handled and will continue to make us proud. If there’s one thing about Mangas, she loves us like her own kids. We all know how much she loves this job and all of us.”
Maddy said she was sad knowing Mrs. Mangas was leaving and she was graduating. Maddy says that Mrs. Mangas and the band feel like a family now and that she’s sad things will have to change. She says that there are a lot of talented kids in the band class.
This is a very emotional concert due to it being Mrs. Mangas’s last year with us. Emotions are already running high and there’s a chance they will all spill out after awards are given and the speech by the band director is given. This year’s concert is like no other and there is no doubt that this will be one of the best concerts the band will give the people. The band director will be missed a lot and she hopes the band will continue to flourish under a new teacher. Our seniors will be missed greatly and we hope they have had an amazing year. Good luck band kids!
