The marching band is one of the most vital and entertaining aspects of high school football games. They manage to bring much-needed pep to the student sections while also providing pleasure and enjoyment during half-time.
Currently, Coronado’s Marching Band is part of a competition along with other EPISD schools where they must come up with a custom theme for their performance, which is a space exploration theme titled “Beyond the Horizon”. After they finish performing, they receive ratings based on how well they did. On October 19, 2023, they played at the SAC in El Paso for a UIL performance and received Superior Ratings, which means they move on to the UIL Area A Marching Contest!
Jessica Shin has been a music director here at Coronado for 10 years. She’s in charge of the jazz band program and oversees the symphonic band program alongside fellow band director Kathryn Andrade. Shin has been an associate director for the Marching Band for 4 years.
“It’s our first custom show that we’ve done as a team together, that requires a lot more original thought and music and choreography and drill, but the music came first. We were looking at a piece called Galactic Empires and a movie called Stardust, that’s where the music came about.” Shin said “We didn’t really have anything else other than that. We like this music, let’s go with it.”
“The band has taken samples of other pieces of music that have inspired them in their show, as well as some original pieces.” says Michaela Castellanos-a drum major at Coronado.
In the competition, they faced Franklin, Eastwood, Pebble Hills, Franklin, and many other High Schools.
In addition to the instrument players, the color-guard is an important part of the band that allows them to bring their best competition forward.
“We are the aesthetic visual of the band. The band does their music, and we create the visual effects of the show. We do that with flags, we dance, and we use rifles.” Allison Gaumer-a legacy student said.
Since it is the Color Guard’s first year with a custom show, they have a lot more props on the field with them, including a golf cart that drives across the field and a huge rocket prop.
“The main part that goes along with the theme are the flags. We have one with a rocket, one with a star, and one with a Nebula.” says Gaumer.
Although the color guard has had a lot more to work on, Allison says the end result will pay off with stunning visuals and a good time.
The Coronado Marching Band had their UIL Area A prelims performance on Saturday the 21st in which they placed 1st place, advancing to the UIL State Marching contest in San Antonio next Monday.
