This year, the Gig Harbor High School band decided to take their talents out of state and down to California. The band, split into two groups, competed in a nationwide competition located in Anaheim, California called Music in the Parks. The same competition the band entered three years before in Idaho. Schools from all over the country come together to perform and compete. Bands can enter the competition for a ranking, and a chance to win, or for a score only. All bands receive a scoring on a scale from 1-5. One being superior but most bands score between two and three. Several other awards are presented, including the overall award for high school, middle school and occasionally elementary school.

The band flew down to California early on Thursday, April 10th. Upon arrival, the students had little down time, as they drove through busy Los Angeles to visit the University of California, LA, meeting with the head of the band department. While one band worked a clinic with the director, the other was treated to a tour of the campus escorted by students of the band program. On the way out, the entire band stopped at In-N-Out burger, one of band director, Eric Swanson’s favorites, filling up the restaurant, and spilling out far onto the sidewalk. Meanwhile, only a few blocks away from the premier of Transcendence. Piling back onto the buses, the band headed down to Anaheim, checking into their hotel located right across the street from Disneyland.

Early Friday morning, the students were set free in Disneyland, being treated to no crowds and unbelievably short wait times. The students enjoyed an entire day in Disney meeting up for a large group lunch at the House of Blues in downtown Disneyland. Following this, the band slipped behind the scenes of California adventures to take part a Disneyland exclusive soundtrack recording, where the band is put into a real life studio recording session, recording Disney music for specific movie clips. This recording opportunity is found nowhere else in the world, only at Disneyland in California. Both bands were combined to work through a handful of classic Disney music in a premier sound studio environment. Running through the tunes a few times before recording over the corresponding Disney movie clip. They played music from such classics as Beauty and the Beast and The Lion King, before being let loose back into the park until 9:00 at night.

Saturday morning the hotel was busy with well-dressed band students, sporting tuxes and long dresses as they boarded the buses heading to their performance for the competition. Arriving at Valencia High School at 8:45am, the two bands performed for two highly renowned judges before heading back to the hotel. Hanging up their tuxes and dresses, the students were once again sent out into the parks. Around 6:30, the both bands congregates along with all the other schools that competed to take part in the Music in the Parks award ceremony located at the Big Thunder Ranch Jamboree in the heart of Disneyland. Waiting for the ceremony students lead their own mini pep rallies, going through a variety of school chants, which quickly turned into a competition between the schools to show who had the most school spirit. Awards were handed out for 1st and 2nd place for both choir and band in middle school and high school divisions. Four over all trophies were awarded for middle and high school choir, middle and high school band. Both Gig Harbor bands received superior ratings, and won first place in their division, along with the over all High school band title and trophy, marking the second time the band has taken home such awards. Three years ago the program traveled east to Idaho, entering the same competition as this year, winning 1st place in high school concert and jazz band, along with the overall.

Sunday the band packed up, ready to leave later that day, before being set out for the last time into the parks. Students enjoyed their last chance to ride rides and have fun before leaving the park behind to travel back to Washington. Departing at 7, the band got back to Seattle around 9:45pm. Upon their return, band director Eric Swanson took the trophies and displayed them proudly in the main office, compensating for the bands lack of a trophy case.

Six trophies, and two Disney performing arts plaques may not seem like much of an accomplishment, compared to other division like choir and sports, with their cases full of awards, but for the band it means the world. The program had hit rock bottom in recent years, the number dwindling down to under 30 members at it’s lowest point. Mismanaged and suffering the band was pushed aside and ignored until five years ago when Swanson took over the program. With his skill and dedication, with in only one year the band had already doubled in size and entered their first competition in Idaho. The program has only gotten better over the years, drastically growing in size and skill each year. Just this year, the program welcomed its third concert group, Symphonic Band to the family, an intermediate level group. This year the top-level band, Wind Symphony was invited to perform at the Washington Music Educators Association’s annual council as a demonstration band, one of only four chosen from the entire state. It is estimated the program will be up to 140 students come next year, a shocking comparison to the dwindling program just five years ago.

From 29 people band, on the verge of collapse, within five short years, has transformed into a recognized, college level program that only continues to grow, in both size and skills. Even with their recent success, Swanson wants all the students to remember, it’s not about the trophies, or the awards. It’s about striving everyday for musical perfection, taking pride in the talents every student possesses and the dedication it takes everyday to pull off the seemingly impossible.