By: Jalen Bullock
After a year and a half of digital entertainment, the world is starting to move forward. One of the groups on the Redwood campus looking to make a comeback post pandemic is the band program. After being apart for over a year, the band is back!
The band, being one of the programs most affected by the pandemic, is excited to finally be able to perform as a group in person once again. When talking about the difficulties of performing as a group over zoom, four year band member and Redwood senior Gabriella Matta says, ¨Of course I was devastated to not be able to have a ¨ ‘normal’ ¨ senior year.¨
Matta ‘21 adds that, ¨I’m glad that we were still able to do as much as we did. Compared to the rest of the High Schools in Visalia, we are lucky to have been able to do these virtual concerts and virtual field shows.”
As there were returning band members there are of course new faces as well. Freshmen Michael Brito Jr. and Keoni Estevez Morales are a part of these new faces.
After the sudden end of their 8th grade year, the adjustment to high school life had to have been difficult. Estevez Morales ‘24, says that ¨The adjustment was not as big a shock as I had thought it would be. Going from zoom to school felt natural. A lot of upperclassmen have helped me with the change of pace and finding my classes, along with the more difficult music.¨
When asked about the upcoming spring concert, Brito Jr. ‘24 states that ¨It is really exciting thinking about my first high school concert. Finally getting to play with other people for the first time in a year and play in front of friends and family is great.”
Because of the school session being split into A and B tracks along with distance learners, the band has not been able to rehearse as a group. When asked about if there was nervousness about not having rehearsed all together for the usual amount of time, Estevez Morales ‘24 adds that ¨I’m not really that nervous. Mr. Ray has done a good job at preparing us to perform and for being apart for as long as we were, we sound better than I could have imagined.¨
The Redwood Band Program will be hosting their spring concert on May 22nd at 6pm in the Mineral King Bowl.
Jalen Bullock
Jalen ´ 23 has a strong love for the performing arts. As a three year member, Jalen has developed a love for growing in writing and develop a passion for podcasting, where he developed a passion for podcasting and became a co-host of the bi-weekly podcast, Everything Entertainment. Outside of the Gigantea, Jalen plays the tuba for the Redwood Band, as well as dominate as a member of the Los Journalistos on the occasion.
Tags: rangers, redwood band, redwood high school
