Maple Valley can be proud of its Tahoma High School Marching Band. This year, the
band has taken on new energy, enthusiasm, and look. Because of the talent of these
students, they have been invited to compete in the State Field Show Competition
on November 5 in Auburn.
The band has been working under the direction of Matthew Cole, field show designer
Mitch DeGrace, marching instructors John Benedetti and Ana Bunger, Alumni Band member
Neal Peck and Drum Line coach Ryk Fischer. DeGrace forwarded video of the band to
the State officials. The State officials were so impressed with the quality of the
students’ performance and rate of improvement that they invited Tahoma to participate
in the competition with only one slot left. “This doesn’t ever happen!” says Matt
Cole. The students were given the choice to participate in the novice or 2A category
and chose to participate at the higher 2A level.
Tahoma Marching Band will also be competing at The Puget Sound Festival of Bands
field show competition in Everett on October 22. This field show boasts close to
70 students on the field, large props, backdrops, flags, front ensemble, powerful
winds, the drum line and original music composed especially for the Tahoma Band.
The theme for the show is “Ready to Rock” and features an electric bass solo, trumpet
solos, and a flute solo. The students are marching in a corps-style, which is new
to Tahoma this year. Parents, students, volunteers, and staff have all worked together
at building props, painting, sewing flags and sashes. “Parents and community members
in Maple Valley are stepping up with our band in partnership to achieve amazing
new heights,” exclaims Cole.
Maple Valley residents can catch the field show and cheer on the band by coming
to the Tahoma Football Game on Friday, October 21. The band will be performing their
show at half time with rally performance afterwards by the THS drum line.
