School buses, instruments and high schoolers surrounded Autzen Stadium on Saturday, October 22nd, for the 33rd annual Festival of the Bands. Twenty-two high school marching bands from around Oregon drove to Eugene to participate in this competition that started at 8 am and will end at around 10 o’clock Saturday night. One of those bands was from Sheldon High School a local Eugene competitor. Here some frames from their experience through the competition.
Members of the Sheldon High School Marching Band gathered outside Autzen Stadium at 8:06 am Saturday morning to practice their routine before their 9:18 scheduled performance at the Festival of The Bands. High School Marching bands from all over Oregon come to Eugene to participate in this annual competition. (Tess Freeman/Oregon Daily Emerald)
Bryan Hall (right), Ben Mladenich and Nathan Nadeau help each other tune their tubas in the warmth of the Moshofksky Center in preparation for their performance at the 33rd annual Festival of the Bands. (Tess Freeman/Oregon Daily Emerald)
Tuba section leader Bryan Hall and other members of the Sheldon High School marching band greet the sun as they practice their marching techniques before their turn in the high school marching band competition Festival of the Bands. (Tess Freeman/Oregon Daily Emerald)
Melophone player Fontayne Thompson, a freshman at Sheldon High School, tunes his instrument inside the Moshofsky Center before going into Autzen Stadium. (Tess Freeman/Oregon Daily Emerald)
Jaclyn Corbett, section leader for the melophones, and other members of the marching band practice their formations before their performance. The Sheldon High School Marching Band won seventh place in the Pacific Coast Invitational Marching Band competition in early October. (Tess Freeman/Oregon Daily Emerald)
Hana Kamata, a junior drum major at Sheldon High School moves a block so she can stand and direct the marching band during their practice session. Drum majors are required to wear more ornate clothing then the rest of the band and direct everyone where to march, where to stand and what to play. (Tess Freeman/Oregon Daily Emerald)
Trombone section leader Taylor Eiesle takes a moment of reflection as trombone player Joe Olsen adjusts his hat before they walk over to Autzen stadium for their performance. “I want everyone breathing deeply as we walk through the tunnel,” director Tracy Ross told everyone to calm their nerves. (Tess Freeman/Oregon Daily Emerald)
Senior drum major Ami Wick directs as Sheldon High School performed their show titled “In and Out of Black.” Tracy Ross, director of the band program at Sheldon High School, told her students “It was a performance to be proud of even if they didn’t make it into the finals.” (Tess Freeman/Oregon Daily Emerald)
The 30th annual Festival of the Bands was fortunate enough to have sunny fall weather for all the bands, teachers and parents whom made the trip to Eugene for the day. (Tess Freeman/Oregon Daily Emerald)
Drum Major Hana Kamata, a junior at Sheldon High School hugs Jaime Kim, clarinet section leader, after the band finishes their performance. Kamata will take over as senior drum major band next year after current senior drum major, Ami Wick, graduates. (Tess Freeman/Oregon Daily Emerald)
