Schools
Eureka High Band Takes First Place
High levels of concentration, rehearsals and precision gave the Wildcat Pride Marching Band the boost they needed to win an annual competition hosted at Washington High School Saturday.
Eureka High School's marching band is having as good a season as the football team for which they provide halftime support and performances. This Saturday, Eureka band members took first place in the 43rd annual Washington Marching Band Festival in the Class A category for large schools.
Eureka band director John Arata said 24 bands competed altogether this weekend within four school size classifications. Classes are determined by the enrollment of the school in grades nine-12.
Arata said the amount of time devoted to rehearsals makes a big difference. "We rehearse every day during seventh hour and every Thursday night. We begin our season with two weeks of summer rehearsals, just before fall sports practices begin."
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He said Eureka band members were highly ranked in musical effect, and the ability of the students in marching and formations "edged out the competition."
Six judges provided comments in both recorded and written feedback. Arata said the judges typically are high school or college educators, composers, or music arrangers who are experts in the field.
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"The Wildcat Pride Marching Band regularly earns high places in our area marching band festivals, but the last time we won first place was in Park Hills, MO, and Rolla, MO, in 2004," said Arata. "We do three marching band competitions each year—which is more than some, but less than other schools."
What's the key to recent success? Arata said the students are focused and working hard on performing the music fundamentals at the highest level that they can. "This result (from the competition) indicates that we're on the right track."
Second place in the Class A category went to Mehlville. Arata said the other groups in Class A, such as Pattonville, Wentzville Timberland and Troy Buchanan, had fine performances, too.
"We also congratulate Rockwood Summit on their first place win in Class B," said Arata.
He said he'd again like to thank the rest of the teachers for a job well done during the band's summer program and at the beginning of the school year while .
(See related article:
Editor's Note: Thanks to Dennis Albanello for sharing the accompanying photos of the band.
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